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ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBR 


3  1833  01201  3899 


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GENEALOGICAL 


PERSONAL    HISTORY 


OF 


BEAVER  COUNTY 


PENNSYLVANIA 


UNDER  THE   EDITORIAL  SUPERVISION  OF 

JOHN  W.  JORDAN,   LL.   D. 

Librarian  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME  II 


NEW  YORK 
LEWIS  HISTORICAL  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

19  14 


1227159 

BEAVER   COUNTY  547 

The  name  of  Vance  is  one  which  has  been  on  record  in  the 
VANCE     annals  of  the  state  of   Pennsylvania   for  many  generations. 

The  earlier  members  of  this  family  settled  in  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  state,  and  from  that  section  gradually  branched  out  to  other 
parts. 

(I)  James  Vance  was  born  in  what  is  now  Lawrence  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  well  known  as  a  farmer  and  large  land  owner.  He  died 
rather  young,  and  very  suddenly,  and  his  widow  never  remarried.  He  and 
his  family  were  members  of  the  Seceders'  Church.  He  married  (first) 
a  Miss  Walker,  (second)  Annie  Harris.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had 
children:  i.  Walker,  born  in  1813;  was  a  farmer  and  shoemaker;  died 
in  Lawrence  county,  July  6,  1867.  2.  Polly,  married  John  Weller,  died  in 
Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  January,  1876.  3.  Margaret,  married  (first) 
a  Mr.  Fisher,  (second)  William  George;  died  February  18,  1889,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-nine  years.  4.  Pattie,  married  David  Aiken ;  died  in  Law- 
rence county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Isabel,  married  Henry  Fisher ;  died  in 
Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  3,  1890,  in  her  eighty-sixth  year, 
6.  A  child,  name  not  on  record.  Children  by  second  marriage:  7.  Lydia, 
married  James  McClymonds;  died  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 30,  1882,  in  her  sixty-second  year.  8.  Jane,  married  John  Gardner; 
died  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania.  9.  Eliza  Ann,  married  William  J, 
Smith;  died  in  California,  October  3,  1869,  aged  forty-two  years.  lo. 
William,  see  forward.  11.  John,  who  became  a  minister  in  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church;  died  in  Wisconsin,  May  10,  1877,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
four  years.  12.  Nancy,  married  Israel  Van  Gorder;  died  in  New  Wilming- 
ton, Pennsylvania. 

(II)  William  Vance,  son  of  James  and  Annie  (Harris)  Vance,  was 
bom  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  30,  1824,  and  died 
September  20,  1909.  After  his  marriage  he  commenced  to  farm  indepen- 
dently, buying  a  homestead  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres.  He  erected 
a  new  house  on  this,  and  in  1861  built  a  large  barn.  He  was  very  pros- 
perous and  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  and  another  of  sixty 
acres  in  New  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Subse- 
quently he  bought  three  hundred  acres  in  Mercer  county,  three  miles  north- 
west of  New  Wilmington,  lived  there  for  a  time,  and  soon  sold  his  Law- 
rence county  property.  He  finally  took  up  his  permanent  residence  at  New 
Wilmington,  where  he  and  his  wife  died.  He  was  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  had  served  as  school  director  and  assessor  of  Lawrence  county. 
Mr.  Vance  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Moundsville,  and  he  served  as  an  elder  in  this  institution  for  a  period 
of  thirty  years. 

Mr.  Vance  married  Martha  Leslie,  born  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  28,  1826,  died  November  29,  1909.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Martha  Leslie,  both  born  in  Lawrence  county,  the  former.  May' 
16,   1792,  the  latter,  January  24,   1795.     Their  entire  lives  were   spent  in- 


548  PENNSYLVANIA 

their  nativ.e  county,  where  he  was  a  farmer  on  his  own  land.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Seceders'  Church,  and  lived  quiet  and  retired  lives.  He 
died  July  31,  1859,  she  died  May  30,  1865.  They  had  children:  i.  John 
L.,  born  November  29,  1818;  was  a  farmer;  died  in  Lawrence  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  29,  1883.  2.  Margaret,  born  in  1820,  died  unmar- 
ried, February  19,  1881.  3.  Agnes,  born  February  21,  1822,  died  July 
14,  1825.  4.  Jane,  born  December  14,  1823;  married  Edward  McMillen; 
died  at  New  Castle,  in  August,  1890.  5.  Martha,  married  William  Vance, 
as  above  stated.  6.  Robert,  born  May  6,  1828,  died  in  New  Castle,  after 
having  retired  to  private  life.  7.  George,  born  November  10,  1831 ;  was 
sexton  of  the  Oak  Park  Cemetery;  died  at  New  Castle.  8.  Harriet,  a 
twin  of  George,  married  Joseph  Barclay;  died  in  Illinois,  January  30,  1871. 
9.  Maria,  born  June  17,  1837,  died  unmarried,  July  10,  1851.  10.  Ellen, 
born  May  10,  1840;  married  William  Fisher;  died  September  10,  1896. 
William  and  Martha  (Leslie)  Vance  had  children:  i.  James  R.,  a  farmer 
near  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania.  2.  George  Leslie,  see  forward.  3.  John' 
H.,  a  physician ;  lives  in  Omaha,  Nebraska.  4.  Clement  Oswin,  a  farmer  in 
Lackawanna  township,  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Norman  G.,  a 
farmer  and  stock  dealer;  lives  in  Wilmington  Junction,  Pennsylvania.  6. 
Anna  M.,  unmarried,  lives  in  New  Wilmington,  Pennsylvania.  7.  Wil- 
liam Ambrose,  died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  8.  Cyrus  M.,  a  farmer  in 
Lackawanna  township,  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania. 

(Ill)  George  Leslie  Vance,  son  of  William  and  Martha  (Leslie) 
Vance,  was  born  in  Slippery  Rock  township,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  13,  1857.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  school 
near  his  home,  and  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  during  his  spare 
hours.  In  April,  1881,  he  came  to  New  Sewickley  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  to  take  charge  of  the  one-hundred-acre  farm  here, 
and  he  became  the  owner  of  this  and  has  lived  here  since  that  time.  In 
1889  he  erected  a  large  barn,  and  in  1903  a  new  modern  farm  house.  He 
cultivates  general  produce,  is  also  a  stock  raiser  and  to  some  extent  runs 
a  dairy  and  fruit  farm.  He  is  a  man  of  great  business  ability,  and  is  at 
the  present  time  treasurer  and  director  of  the  Brush  Creek  Valley  Tele- 
phone Company.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics  and  has  served  twice  as 
supervisor.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  elder  for  a  period  of  thirty  years. 

Mr.  Vance  married,  October  24,  1877,  Sarah  Melinda,  born  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Moyer)  Dindinger. 
She  was  the  granddaughter  of  Samuel  and  Agnes  Moyer,  both  born  in 
Germany  and  among  the  early  residents  of  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  a  farmer.  She  is  also  the  granddaughter  of  George  and 
Christina  Dindinger,  he  a  native  of  Germany  who  early  settled  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Jacob  Dindinger  was  bom  near  Camp  Run,  and 
his  wife  at  Middle  Lancaster,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania.  After  mar- 
riage they  lived  in   Franklin  township,  Beaver  county,  then  removed  to 


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BEAVER    COUNTY  549 

Perry  township,  in  the  same  county,  where  Mrs.  Dindinger  died  in  1874. 
Mr.  Dindinger  married  (second)  Electha  Powell,  and  is  living  in  Wampum, 
Pennsylvania.  George  Leslie  and  Sarah  Melinda  (Dindinger)  Vance  had 
children:  i.  and  2.  Twin  girls,  who  died  unnamed,  July  27,  1879.  3.  A 
girl,  died  unnamed,  December  5,  1880.  4.  William  Lawrence,  born  April 
27,  1882,  married  Edna  Eleanor  Peirsol,  and  has  a  daughter,  Sarah  Martha. 
5.  Clement  Ross,  born  June  19,  1885,  died  March  24,  1886.  6.  Raymond 
Arwood,  born  February  i,  1888;  lives  in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania ;  is  shipping  clerk  at  the  Sanitary  Works,  Monaca,  Beaver  county ; 
married  Emma  Walter,  and  has  two  daughters:  Willa  Emma  and  Sarah 
Melinda.    7.  Homer  Clendenin,  born  November  24,  1897;  resides  at  home. 


The  history  of  the  Mackall  family  in  early  days  is  closely 
MACKALL    intricated  with  that  of  the  name  Dawson,  several  mar- 
riages between  the  two  families  giving  them  a  close  ac- 
quaintance and  a  union  of  interests  that  was  mutually  helpful  and  led  their 
steps  in  parallel  paths. 

(I)  This  record  dates  from  Benjamin  Mackall,  who  represented  the 
name  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  a  native  of  Carroll  county,  Maryland,  al- 
though in  later  life  he  lived  in  Virginia,  supervising  the  cultivation  of  a 
farm  belonging  to  a  half-sister.  In  1802  he  journeyed  to  Georgetown,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  passed  the  summer  at  the  Dawson  home,  but  was  evidently 
little  pleased  with  the  locality,  for  he  returned  to  Virginia  and  made  no 
effort  to  transfer  his  residence  to  Pennsylvania.  He  married  Rebecca 
Dawson,  and  had  children :  Jennie,  born  in  1785 ;  James,  of  whom  further ; 
Thomas,  born  about  1790;  Samuel;  Eleanor,  born  January  10,  1796,  mar- 
ried Benoni  Blackmore;  Nellie;  John  D.,  born  January  i,  1800. 

(II)  James  Mackall,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Rebecca  (Dawson)  Mackall, 
was  born  in  Loudon  county,  Virginia,  January  16,  1788.  When  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Pennsylvania,  having  first  lived  for  a 
time  in  Maryland.  His  educational  advantages  had  been  very  limited,  and 
from  a  very  early  age  he  was  self-supporting,  but  in  spite  of  handicaps 
of  this  nature  he  rose  to  a  prominent  position  in  local  affairs,  enjoying 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellows.  His  home  was  in  Greene  town- 
ship, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  he  held  the  numerous  township 
offices,  at  one  time  serving  as  county  commissioner.  He  was  a  lieutenant 
of  militia  but  was  never  called  into  service,  although  at  the  time  of  the 
second  war  with  Great  Britain  the  company  was  expecting  marching  orders 
at  almost  any  time.  He  married  Phoebe  Foster,  bom  near  Brownsville, 
Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Phoebe  (Preston)  Foster,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  born  near  Brownsville.  They  made  settlement 
in  Georgetown  prior  to  1800,  he  pursuing  his  trade,  that  of  wheelwright, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  the  first  to 
officiate  in  Georgetown.  For  several  years  he  was  known  to  the  traveling 
public  as  the  proprietor  of  the  Georgetown  Tavern,  and  as  a  host  of  genial 


S50  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  cordial  address  he  became  known  far  and  wide.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  a  widow,  Mrs.  Boyd.  Children  of  first  mar- 
riage: Phoebe,  of  previous  mention,  married  James  Mackall,  Sarah,  Jane, 
Preston.  Children  of  second  marriage:  Thomas  and  John.  Children  of 
James  and  Phoebe  (Foster)  Mackall:  Thomas,  born  December  19,  181 6; 
Rebecca,  1818;  Benjamin,  1820;  Phoebe,  1822;  Jane,  1825;  John  D.,  1828; 
Polly,  1830;  Samuel,  of  whom  further;  James,  1836;  Sarah,  1838;  George 
W.,  1842. 

(Ill)  Samuel  Mackall,  son  of  James  and  Phoebe  (Foster)  Mackall, 
was  bom  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  15, 
1833,  in  early  life  he  was  a  student  in  the  Montgomery  school  of  that  town- 
ship. He  began  work  as  a  young  man  and  was  reared  to  manhood  on  what 
is  now  the  James  Calhoon  farm,  living  on  the  old  place  until  1876,  when 
he  came  to  Georgetown,  remaining  in  that  locality  for  six  years.  He 
then  moved  to  near  his  previous  home,  living  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twelve  acres  until  April,  1908,  when  he  returned  to  Georgetown,  since  that 
year  making  his  home  in  that  place.  He  has  prospered  in  his  farming 
operations  and  has  amassed  a  comfortable  competence. 

Mr.  Mackall  married  (first)  in  1863;  Sarah  Haney,  (second)  August 
3,  1871,  Jennie  Dawson.  Children  of  first  marriage:  i.  George,  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Carnegie;  resides  in  Clinton,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania; 
children:  Stella,  Rea,  Sarah,  Allie,  Clarence,  Samuel,  Bessie.     2.  Rebecca, 

3.  James,  married  Grace  Poe;  resides  in  Georgetown,  Pennsylvania;  chil- 
dren: Fay,  Ruth,  Beula,  Dwight,  Duane.     Children  of  second  marriage: 

4.  Louise,  wife  of  John  Reed,  resides  in  Hookstown,  Pennsylvania;  chil- 
dren: Walter,  Charlie,  Raymond,  John,  Wilmer.  5.  Thomas,  married 
Mary  Pugh;  resides  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania; 
children :  Elma,  Samuel,  Gus,  Lillian,  Nellie.  6.  Samuel,  married  Olive 
Young;  no  children.  7.  Benona,  married  Stella  Pugh;  one  child.  Myrtle. 
8.  Charles.  9.  William,  married  Margaret  Pugh;  children:  Daniel,  Walter. 
ID.  Robert,  married  Augusta  Mautz;  children:  Donald,  Glen.  11.  Edward. 
12.  Nellie. 


The  history  of  the  Flemings  of  Scotland  in  Pennsylvania 
FLEMING  began  when  Robert  Fleming,  a  native  of  Argyleshire, 
Scotland,  born  in  1716,  immigrated  to  America  with  his 
wife  in  1746,  settling  near  Flemington,  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  In 
1760  he  moved  to  Cecil  county,  Maryland,  thence  to  the  west  branch  of 
the  Susquehanna,  near  the  mouth  of  Bald  Eagle  creek,  from  which  he  and 
his  family  were  driven  by  the  Indians  in  the  "Great  Runaway."  Until 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  they  located  in  Hanover  township,  then  Lan- 
caster, now  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  about  1784  moved  to  West- 
em  Pennsylvania,  settling  on  Harmons  creek,  in  Washington  county,  where 
Robert  Fleming  died  April  3,  1802.  He  married,  about  1745,  in  the  prov- 
ince of   Ulster,   Ireland,   Jane  Jackson,  born   1719,   died  June    16,    1803. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  55i 

Children  of  Robert  and  Jane  (Jackson)  Fleming:  i.  A  son,  born  in  1746, 
died  and  was  buried  at  sea.  2.  Jesse,  born  1748.  3.  John,  born  in  1752, 
died  in  Montgomery  county,  New  York,  December  15,  1800;  married,  in 
1774,  Mary  Jackson.  4.  Robert,  born  June  6,  1756,  died  February  4, 
1817;  married  Margaret  Wright.  5.  James,  of  whom  further.  6.  Samuel, 
born  October  30,  1761,  died  in  Harrisburg,  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  3,  1851;  married,  September  24,  1789,  Sarah  Becket.  7.  Mary, 
born  February  15,  1767,  died  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  July 
3,  1849;  married,  May  7,  1791,  Alexander  McConnell. 

(II)  James  Fleming,  fifth  son  and  child  of  Robert  and  Jane  (Jack- 
son) Fleming,  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1758,  died  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  i,  1830.  He  was,  of  course, 
with  his  father  during  the  latter's  many  changes  of  residence,  and  about 
1781  became  a  resident  of  Hanover  township,  then  a  part  of  Washington 
county.  He  married,  October  5,  1797,  Jane  Glen,  who  died  March  i,  1841. 
Children  of  James  and  Jane  (Glen)  Fleming:  i.  John,  of  whom  further. 
2.  Martha,  born  February  26,  1801,  died  April  i,  1841 ;  married,  October 
17,  1831,  James  Patterson.  3.  Robert,  born  August  23,  1802,  died  July 
8,  1824.  4.  David  S.,  born  August  16,  1804;  married,  August  24,  1841, 
Martha  Steele.  5.  James,  born  August  5,  1806;  married,  October  31,  1829, 
Catherine  B.  Parker.  6.  Samuel,  born  June  20,  181 1;  married,  July  4, 
1839,  Rebecca  McCombs. 

(III)  John  Fleming,  eldest  son  and  child  of  James  and  Jane  (Glen) 
Fleming,  was  bom  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  October  27,  1799, 
and  there  died.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  the  manner  of  his  living 
being  simple  and  unpretentious.  He  became  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six  acres.  He  married,  December  24,  1835,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Joseph  McClurg,  who  was  an  early  settler  of  Greene  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  whither  he  came  probably  from  Westmoreland 
county.  Children  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (McClurg)  Fleming:  i.  James, 
born  December  11,  1836;  married  April  17,  1858,  Margaret  Ralston.  2. 
Joseph  M.,  of  whom  further.  3.  Mary  Jane,  born  August  18,  1841.  4. 
Martha  E.,  bom  February  24,  1844.  5-  Sarah  A.,  bom  Febraary  19,  1846, 
died  in  1852.  6.  John  C,  born  February  7,  1848.  7.  Robert  A.,  born  Sep- 
tember 12,  1849.  8.  Rachel  A.,  born  May  18,  1852.  9.  David  H.,  born 
April  IS,  1855. 

(IV)  Joseph  M.  Fleming,  second  child  and  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(McClurg)  Fleming,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  He 
passed  his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm,  attending  the  public  school  and 
lending  his  services  toward  the  accomplishment  of  the  endless  work  in- 
cident to  farm  life,  where  a  strong,  active  boy  is  so  needed  and  so  useful. 
He  then  became  a  farmer  on  his  own  responsibility,  stopping  his  agricultural 
operations  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  work- 
ing alternately  at  his  two  occupations.  In  1871  he  moved  to  Beaver  county, 
settling  first  in  Hanover  and  later  in  Greene  township,  moving,  after  the  death 


552  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  his  wife,  to  Beaver  Falls,  where  his  own  death  occurred.  His  life  was 
lived  along  lines  of  the  strictest  rectitude,  and  in  the  different  localities  in 
which  he  resided  he  bore  a  reputation  beyond  reproach.  He  was  a  regular 
church-goer,  belonging  to  the  Mill  Creek  congregation.  He  married  Isabell, 
daughter  of  Reece  and  Mary  (McKinzie)  Mercer,  the  Mercer  family  having 
early  settled  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Children  of  Joseph  M.  and 
Isabell  (Mercer)  Fleming:  John  R.,  of  whom  further;  Mary  Elizabeth; 
Sarah  Adeline,  deceased;  Anna  Belle,  died  in  infancy;  Joseph  K. ;  David 
Brainard. 

(V)  John  R.  Fleming,  eldest  son  and  child  of  Joseph  M.  and  Isabell 
(Mercer)  Fleming,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  30, 
1861.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Washington  and  Beaver  counties, 
and  after  completing  his  studies  engaged  in  farming  as  his  life  occupation. 
His  first  property  was  the  Cole  farm  of  seventy-seven  acres  in  Greene 
township,  and  later  he  rented  another  farm  in  the  same  locality.  This  he 
only  cultivated  for  a  year  and  a  half  before  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
four  acres  of  land  near  Hookstown,  on  which  he  has  resided  since  1898. 
In  his  operations  he  includes  both  dairying  and  general  farming,  owning 
some  excellent  stock,  and  has  been  uniformly  successful  as  an  agriculturist. 
His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Prohibition  party,  with  whose  prin- 
ciples he  is  in  sympathetic  accord,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Mill  Creek 
Church,  a  communicant  of  the  same  faith  as  his  father.  In  the  spring  of 
1914  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  elders  of  the  congregation. 

Mr.  Fleming  married,  in  April,  1897,  Lucinda,  daughter  of  Aaron  and 
Cynthia  (Shillito)  Hood.  Aaron  Hood  was  the  son  of  William  and  Eliza 
(Van  Camp)  Hood,  early  residents  of  Greene  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Cynthia  Shillito  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eliza 
(Smith)  Shillito. 


The  name  of   Mitchell  has  come  to  this  country   from 
MITCHELL     England,    Scotland,    Ireland   and   Germany,   and   is   now 

known  throughout  the  United  States.  The  bearers  of  it 
have  been  noted  for  the  qualities  of  industry,  thrift  and  stern  adherence' 
to  principle.  They  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  have  greatly  aided  its  development. 

(I)  James  Mitchell  was  born  in  York  (Little  York),  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  removed  to  Little  Sewickley,  Allegheny  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  now  known  as  the  Watson  farm. 
He  was  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  family  were 
Presbyterians.  His  death  occurred  in  middle  age.  Mr.  Mitchell  mar- 
ried, in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Seaton,  and  had  children:     James  W., 

of  further  mention;  John,  who  had  lost  the  sight  of  one  eye,  lived  for  a 
time  in  New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania,  removed  to  Brownsville  in  the  same 
state,  was  a  coal  operator,  and  had  a  large  family;  George,  a  farmer,  lived 
at  Grafton,  West  Virginia,  was  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  553 

and  was  killed  while  on  duty;  Polly,  married  Thomas  Boggs,  a  farmer 
of  New  Brighton,  and  both  are  now  deceased ;  Wilson. 

(II)  James  W.  Mitchell,  son  of  James  and  (Seaton)   Mitchell, 

was  born  in  Little  Sewickley,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
9,  1811,  died  in  1874.  He  remained  on  this  farm  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  then  removed  to  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  where  he  learned 
the  stone  mason's  and  stone  cutter's  trade.  He  helped  build  the  canal  along 
the  Beaver  river,  and  erected  the  stone  Presbyterian  Church  in  New  Brigh- 
ton. He  was  also  the  proprietor  of  a  marble  yard  for  four  or  five  years.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  influence  and  activity  in  the  community,  and  this  was 
recognized  by  his  election  and  appointment  to  various  public  offices.  He 
gave  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party,  and  was  a  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Allegheny  county  and  in  New  Brighton  for  a  period  of 
fifteen  years.  He  had  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Know  Nothing  party  be- 
fore it  became  the  Republican,  and  was  a  strong  Abolitionist.  Physically 
he  was  a  very  large  man,  weighing  over  two  hundred  pounds,  and  strong 
in  proportion  to  his  size.  Mr.  Mitchell  married  Mary  Jane  Neill,  born  in 
county  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  1817,  died  in  1901.  They  had  children:  Thomas, 
was  but  a  young  lad  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Civil  War,  and  died  in 
1867  as  a  result  of  the  hardships  he  had  endured  during  that  struggle; 
Bella,  now  deceased,  married  Garrison  Dirk,  and  lived  in  New  Brighton; 
James  Sidell,  of  further  mention;  Laura,  now  deceased,  married  Albert 
Denning ;  Ella,  married  Henry  Dunham,  and  lives  in  New  Brighton ;  George 
died  in  1862,  at  the  age  of  nine  years ;  Caroline,  married  William  Inky,  both 
deceased;  Juliet,  married  Henry  Geer,  lives  in  New  Brighton;  Benjamin, 
a  painter,  lives  in  Toledo,  Ohio. 

Thomas  Neill,  father  of  Mrs.  Mitchell,  was  born  in  county  Antrim, 
Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1822.  He  arrived  at  Hoboken,  New 
Jersey,  from  whence  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
lived  a  few  years.  He  next  removed  to  Big  Sewickley,  Allegheny  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  bought  a  farm,  and  in  old  age  removed  to  New 
Brighton,  Beaver  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 
In  Ireland  he  had  been  a  weaver  and  followed  that  trade  here  until  he 
bought  his  farm.  He  was  a  very  strict  observer  of  the  Presbyterian  faith, 
and  was  an  elder  in  the  Concord  Church  of  that  denomination.    He  married, 

in  Ireland,  Mary ,  who  died  about  1867.    They  had  children :    Thomas 

Jr.,  served  in  the  Mexican  and  Civil  Wars,  was  a  painter  by  trade,  and 
lived  and  died  on  Neville  Island,  Pennsylvania;  Mary  Jane,  married  Mr. 
Mitchell,  as  above  stated;  Eleanor,  married  Frederick  Sidell,  and  lived  in 
East  End,  Pittsburgh;  Elizabeth,  married  (first)  Merriman,  (sec- 
ond)   Deans ;  Margaret,  married  Jacob  Whitesall,  a  lawyer,  and  lived 

in  Sewickley,  Pennsylvania;  Susan,  married  John  Snyder,  deceased,  and  is 
living  near  New  Sheffield,  Pennsylvania;  Delia,  married  Henry  Bryan, 
and  lived  in  Baden,  Pennsylvania;  Martha,  married  Rev.  Matthew  In- 
gram, deceased,  and  is  living  in  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 


554  PENNSYLVANIA 

(III)  James  Sidell  Mitchell,  son  of  James  W.  and  Mary  Jane  (Neill) 
Mitchell,  was  bom  in  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1847.  His  education,  which  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools,  was 
a  thorough  one,  and  in  September,  1864,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
enlisted  in  the  Two  Hundred  and  Fourth  Regiment  (Fifth  Artillery), 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  mustered  out,  July  i,  1865.  His  regiment  was  on 
camp  duty  along  the  Orange  Railroad.  They  erected  the  first  monument 
that  was  placed  on  the  battlefield  of  Bull  Run.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  became  an  apprentice  with  Boyd  &  Ingram,  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 
at  New  Brighton,  and  after  this  he  had  a  varied  and  interesting  business 
career.  Two  years  were  spent  with  the  above  mentioned  firm;  one  year 
with  Monroe  &  Miller,  of  Rochester;  eleven  years  with  Simon  Harold,  in 
the  Beaver  Falls  Planing  Mill;  and  he  then  associated  himself  with  G.  C. 
Wareham,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wareham  &  Mitchell,  started  a  plan- 
ing mill  and  engaged  in  contract  work.  At  the  end  of  three  years  Mr. 
Mitchell  sold  his  interest  in  this  enterprise,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Mitchell,  Baldwin  &  Otto,  a  partnership  which  was  continued  two 
years,  and  in  1880,  upon  its  dissolution,  Mr.  Mitchell  bought  out  Minor  & 
Company,  of  New  Brighton,  and  conducted  this  business  until  1898.  He 
then  bought  a  planing  mill  in  Beaver  Falls  and  organized  the  company 
of  J.  S.  Mitchell  &  Sons,  which  is  in  a  flourishing  condition  at  the  present 
time.  The  business  consists  of  a  planing  mill,  a  retail  lumber  department, 
and  they  are  also  building  contractors.  They  have  a  planing  mill  in  Monaca, 
which  is  managed  by  the  son,  David  J.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  also  largely  in- 
terested in  real  estate,  and  is  the  owner  of  a  number  of  houses.  He 
is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  has  served  as  registrar  and  recorder  of 
Beaver  county,  1903-06.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Beaver  Falls,  and  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  United 
Order  of  American  Mechanics,  Knights  of  Pythias,  being  a  charter  member 
of  Social  Lodge,  No.  351,  New  Brighton,  of  that  order.  Mr.  Mitchell 
married,  October  ir,  1868,  Lyda  E.  Johnson,  born  in  Fallston,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  David  and  Maria  Johnson,  of  Braver 
county.  Mrs.  Mitchell  died  September  19,  1912.  They  have  had  children: 
Jennie  M.,  married  John  A.  Elliot,  an  attorney  of  Beaver  Falls;  Fred- 
erick S.,  married  Sarah  Metzgar,  and  is  in  business  with  his  father; 
David  J.,  of  further  mention;  Juliet,  unmarried,  lives  with  her  father, 
is  a  talented  musician,  an  instructor  in  music,  and  plays  the  pipe  organ 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

(IV)  David  J.  Mitchell,  son  of  James  Sidell  and  Lyda  E.  (Johnson) 
Mitchell,  was  born  in  New  Brighton, .  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1875.  His  education  was  a  very  comprehensive  one.  At  first 
in  the  public  schools  of  New  Brighton  and  Beaver  Falls,  then  in  the  Ohio 
State  University,  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  next  matriculated  at  the  Western 
Pennsylvania   University,  now   the  University  of   Pittsburgh,  and   finally 


BEAVER   COUNTY  555 

took  a  course  in  the  commercial  department  of  Beaver  College.  In  1898 
he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Tenth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  United  States 
Volunteers  and  vi^as  mustered  out  as  regimental  commissary  sergeant;  this 
service  was  in  the  Spanish-American  War.  He  returned  to  Beaver  Falls 
in  1901,  and  in  1903  went  to  Monaca,  there  to  take  charge  of  the  planing 
mill  and  lumber  yard  of  the  firm  of  J.  S.  Mitchell  &  Sons.  In  political 
opinion  he  is  a  Republican,  has  served  two  terms  as  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mon Council,  and  was  elected  for  a  third  term  in  the  fall  of  1913.  He  is  a 
member  of  Rochester  Lodge,  No.  283,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks;  New  Brighton  Lodge,  No.  351,  Knights  of  Pythias;  a  charter 
member  of  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  of  Monaca  and  Rochester.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Monaca,  and  they  reside  at  No. 
914  Atlantic  avenue. 

Mr.  Mitchell  married,  in  Beaver  Falls,  in  1901,  Mary  E.  Levis,  of 
Rochester,  daughter  of  Henry  M.  and  Sophia  (Myers)  Levis,  the  former 
deceased,  the  latter  living  in  Rochester.  Children:  Catherine,  born  June 
30,  1903;  James  Sidell  (2),  born  January  13,  1905. 


The    Moody    family,   which   is   well    represented   in    Beaver 
MOODY    county,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  present  day,  came  to  this  country 
originally  from  Scotland,  and  has  been  mainly  identified  with 
agricultural  pursuits. 

(I)  Robert  Moody,  the  immigrant  ancestor  of  this  branch  of  the 
Moody  family,  was  born  in  Scotland,  died  near  Philadelphia.  Early  in 
life  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of  sail  making.  Upon  his  arrival 
in  America  he  located  in  Northampton  county,  about  ninety  miles  north 
of  Philadelphia,  and  there  engaged  in  farming.  He  gave  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Whig  party,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  married  Mary  Hutchison  and  had  children:  i.  James,  married  Isa- 
belle  Ewing.  2.  Anna,  died  young.  3.  Elizabeth,  married  James  Thompson, 
and  lived  in  Catawba,  Ohio.  4.  Margaret,  married  John  Bunting,  and 
lived  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Mary,  married  David  Dungan, 
and  lived  at  Frankfort  Springs,  Pennsylvania.  6.  John,  see  forward.  7. 
Martha,  married  S.  H.  Witherspoon.  8.  Nancy,  died  in  early  youth.  9. 
Samuel,  a  preacher  at  Savannah,  Ohio,  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river,  op- 
posite Wellsville,  April  26,  1856;  he  married  Margaret  A.  Dunawho. 

(II)  John  Moody,  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Hutchison)  Moody,  was 
bom  in  Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  16,  1798.  Like  his 
father,  his  chief  occupation  was  that  of  farming,  in  which  he  was  very 
successful.  He  was  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  took  a  deep  interest 
in  whatever  concerned  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  gave  his  political 
allegiance  to  the  Whig  party.  Mr.  Moody  married  Margaret,  born  in 
Hookstown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Mar- 
garet (McCready)  McClure,  the  former  a  well-known  miller.    Children:  i. 


556  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mary,  born  1833,  died  191 1;  married  Milo  Thompson,  and  lived  in  Hooks- 
town;  had  children:  Lucretia,  married  George  Workman;  Clark,  married 
Ada  Doak,  one  child,  William ;  Harry,  deceased ;  Maggie,  married  John  Cot- 
ter; two  died  in  infancy.  2.  Joseph,  see  forward.  3.  Sarah,  born  1838,  died 
at  the  age  of  ten  years.  4.  Samuel,  see  forward.  5.  Margaret  Ann,  see 
forward.  6.  Elizabeth,  born  1847,  died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  7.  Lucretia, 
born  1849,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

(HI)  Joseph  Moody,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (McClure)  Moody, 
was  born  in  Hookstown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  4,  1835. 
His  education  was  the  usual  one  of  a  farmer's  son  at  that  time,  attending 
the  district  school  during  the  winter  months,  and  assisting  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  homestead  farm  during  the  summer.  In  1856,  when  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority,  he  decided  to  branch  out  for  himself,  and  accordingly 
acquired  a  farm  of  thirty  acres  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county.  From 
there  he  went  to  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  purchased  a  farm 
of  eighty-six  acres,  which  he  cultivated  for  a  period  of  seven  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Beaver  county,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  seventeen 
and  one-half  acres,  which  he  sold  in  1907.  He  is  still,  however,  the  owner 
of  a  fine  house,  but  lives  retired  from  business  responsibilities.  He  is  a 
staunch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  his  re- 
ligious affiliations  are  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  On  August  14,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers and  went  to  the  front,  September  i.  He  served  three  years  and  was 
discharged  May  4,  1865,  at  Camp  Reynolds.  Mr.  Moody  is  a  member  of 
Beaver  Post,  No.  473,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  at  the  present  time 
is  quartermaster  of  the  Post.  Mr.  Moody  married  Martha,  born  September 
14,  1835,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Susan  (Allen)  Withrow,  and  their  only 
child  is  Maggie  Elmina,  born  February  17,  1878,  who  was  graduated  from 
the  Beaver  High  School,  and  resides  at  home. 

(Ill)  Samuel  Moody,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (McClure)  Moody, 
was  born  in  Hookstown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1840.  He  re- 
moved to  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Street  Railway  Company  until  the  fall  of  1893,  when  he  returned  to  the 
home  farm,  and  has  since  that -time  assisted  his  sister  in  its  cultivation. 
He  married,  1882,  Mrs.  Martha  (Kennedy)  Hood,  daughter  of  David 
Kennedy,  and  widow  of  Gibson  Hood,  who  had  served  as  a  soldier  during 
the  Civil  War.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  two  children:  Austin,  de- 
ceased; Jennie,  was  a  resident  of  East  Liverpool,  Ohio,  now  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moody  had  children:  Margaret,  married  Emmet  Wilson, 
resides  in  Liverpool ;  Bert ;  Bessie,  married  Harry  Boggs ;  Mabel. 

(Ill)  Margaret  Ann  Moody,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Mc- 
Clure) Moody,  was  born  on  the  Moody  homestead,  south  of  Hookstown, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  1845.  She  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  has  spent  her  entire  life  on  the  home  farm,  where 
she  devoted  herself  to  the  care  of  her  parents  until  their  death  at  an  ad- 


Jlf^^n^^r^ 


BEAVER   COUNTY  557 

vanced  age.  She  owns  the  homestead  farm  and  personally  superintends 
all  farm  operations.  The  farm  formerly  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  acres,  of  which  Miss  Moody  sold  ninety-six  acres. 


The  emigrant  member  of  the  Engle  family  of  Pennsylvania 
ENGLE  made  the  commonwealth  his  home  by  a  combination  of  cir- 
cumstances that  were,  to  say  the  least,  unusual.  Henry  Engle 
was  born  in  Metz,  Alsace-Lorraine,  Germany,  and  was  one  of  the  army 
that  came  to  America  under  the  French  nobleman,  General  Lafayette,  to 
fight  for  the  Colonists  in  the  war  for  independence.  He  survived  that 
struggle  without  serious  injury,  but  had  imbibed  so  much  of  the  American 
spirit  of  liberty  and  had  become  so  ardent  a  champion  of  the  cause  he  had 
so  bravely  aided  to  defend  that  when  the  foreign  army,  of  which  he  was 
a  part,  embarked  for  Europe  he  and  a  companion  deserted.  Alone  in  a 
country  with  which  they  were  almost  unfamiliar,  except  for  the  part 
over  which  their  campaign  had  carried  them,  they  settled  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Pennsylvania  for  a  short  time,  and  then,  Henry  Engle  and  his 
comrade  separating,  the  former  came  to  what  is  now  Beaver  county.  For 
a  time  he  conducted  farming  operations  near  Industry,  and  there  died  at 
the  home  of  one  of  his  several  children,  George,  of  whom  further. 

(H)  George  Engle,  son  of  Henry  Engle,  was  born  near  Shippensburg, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1790,  died  in  Industry,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  1866. 
He  was  brought  to  Beaver  county  when  a  child  by  his  parents  and  there 
spent  his  entire  life.  He  followed  his  father's  occupation,  that  of  farmer, 
and  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  Industry  township,  later 
adding  thirty  acres  to  the  original  tract.  In  1836  he  erected  a  substantial 
brick  house,  now  used  as  a  residence  by  his  son,  Enoch  Engle,  and  here 
his  death  occurred.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  later  became  a 
partisan  of  the  Republican  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  regular  in  their  attendance  and  devout  in 
their  worship. 

He  married  Amy  Dannals,  born  in  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  in 
1799,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  having  survived  her  husband, 
a  widow  twenty-one  years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Stacey  Dannals,  a  Swiss, 
who  came  to  America  prior  to  the  Revolution  and  who  fought  in  that  con- 
flict in  defense  of  the  Colonial  cause.  After  the  war  he  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Brighton  township,  where  his  death  occurred.  He  was  the  father  of 
several  children  by  two  marriages.  Children  of  George  and  Amy  (Dan- 
nals) Engle:  i.  George,  a  carpenter,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 
2.  Henry,  deceased,  a  farmer  and  wagon-maker,  was  for  some  years  steward 
of  the  county  almshouse.  3.  Stacey  D.,  of  whom  further.  4.  Jemima,  de- 
ceased, married  Nicholas  Todd.  5.  John,  died  aged  twenty-four  years.  6. 
David,  of  whom  further.  7.  Washington,  a  farmer  of  Brighton  township. 
8.  Franklin,  died  aged  twelve  years.  9.  Joseph,  a  fruit  grower  of  Industry 
township.  ID.  Enoch,  born  November  9,  1839,  a  fruit  grower  on  the  old 
homestead. 


558  PENNSYLVANIA 

(III)  Stacey  Dannals  Engle,  son  of  George  and  Amy  (Dannals)  Engle, 
was  born  near  Industry,  Pennsylvania.  In  1862  Mr.  Engle  removed  to 
Moon  township,  where  he  continued  at  his  trade  of  wagon  building,  and 
combined  this  with  farming,  in  which  he  was  also  successful.  In  1881  he 
removed  to  Green  Garden,  purchasing  seventy-seven  acres  of  land  there, 
which  he  cultivated  until  his  death  in  1883.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Raccoon  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  Republican  in  political  opinion. 
He  married  (first)  Mary  Robertson,  and  had  children:  James,  Eliza, 
George  W.,  of  whom  further,  Susan,  Oliver  C.,  of  whom  further,  Ann, 
Enoch  W.  S.,  David  and  an  infant,  both  deceased.  He  married  (second) 
in  1867,  Ann  Jane  Shannon,  and  had  children,  as  follows:  John  G.,  of 
whom  further;  William  Joseph,  of  whom  further;  Walker  Dannals,  of 
whom  further., 

(IV)  George  W.  Engle,  son  of  Stacey  Dannals  and  Mary  (Robert- 
son) Engle,  was  born  in  Vanport,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  that  town  and  the  college  at  Beaver.  For  some 
time  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school  and  about  eighteen  or  twenty  years 
age  located  on  the  farm  on  which  he  is  living  at  the  present  time.  This 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres,  all  kept  in  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation.  He  married  Mary  Ellen  Shaffer  and  had  children :  James  O., 
see  forward;  Mary,  a  teacher.  Mary  Ellen  (Shaffer)  Engle  was  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Agnes  (McCallister)  Shaffer;  granddaughter  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  (Wade)  Shaffer;  granddaughter  of  James  and  Nancy 
(Hood)  McCallister;  and  great-granddaughter  of  Daniel  Shaffer  Sr.,  who 
was  a  pioneer  farmer  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  coming  to  that  sec- 
tion about  1800.  The  Shaffer  family  were  in  all  probability  of  German 
origin,  and  they  were  all  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 
Samuel  Shaffer  was  a  blacksmith,  and  plied  his  trade  at  New  Scottsville, 
Independence  and  Bunkerhill.  Later  he  was  a  farmer.  His  children 
were:  Mary  Ellen,  who  married  Mr.  Engle;  James  M.,  Ann  Eliza,  Emma 
Rachel,  William  Melvin,  Daniel  Presley,  Nancy  Jane.  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Wade)  Shaffer  had  children:  William;  Samuel,  who  was  born  in  1829, 
became  the  father  of  Mary  Ellen  (Shaffer)  Engle;  John;  Daniel  and 
James,  served  as  soldiers  during  the  Civil  War;  Eliza  Jane;  Johanna; 
Mary;  and  another.  Agnes  (McCallister)  Shaffer  was  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Nancy  (Hood)  McCallister,  all  farmers,  whose  children  were: 
Agnes,  mentioned  above;  David,  who  served  as  a  soldier  during  the  Civil 
War. 

(V)  James  O.  Engle,  only  son  of  George  W.  and  Mary  Ellen 
(Shaffer)  Engle,  was  born  in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, November  2,  1883.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  very  naturally  drifted  into  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. During  the  past  three  years  he  has  also  been  identified  with  the  opera- 
tion of  a  saw  mill  on  the  homestead  farm.  In  both  undertakings  he  has 
been  successful.     He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  matters  concerning  the 


BEAVER   COUNTY  559 

welfare  of  the  community,  and  while  refusing  to  hold  public  office  he  is 
consistent  in  his  support  of  the  Republican  party.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Raccoon  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Engle  mar- 
ried, April  20,  1908,  Rosa  Cochran,  and  they  have  had  children:  Catherine 
Mary,  Enoch  George,  James  Elmer. 

(IV)  Oliver  C.  Engle,  M.  D.,  a  well  known  physician  of  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  now  located  at  Aliquippa,  was  born  at  Vanport, 
Beaver  county,  March  17,  1856,  son  of  Stacey  Dannals  and  Mary  (Robert- 
son) Engle.  His  early  years  were  spent  on  a  farm  in  Moon  township, 
Beaver  county,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools.  Later  he  became 
a  student  at  Beaver  College  and  the  New  Sheffield  Academy,  and  from 
there  went  to  the  engineering  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan. 
For  a  period  of  eight  years  he  was  successfully  engaged  as  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools,  then  matriculated  at  the  University  of  Maryland,  from 
the  medical  department  of  which  he  was  graduated  in  1887  with  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  at  once  established  himself  in  the  practice  of 
his  chosen  profession,  his  first  location  being  at  New  Sheffield,  where  he 
remained  for  sixteen  years,  and  then  removed  to  Scottdale,  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  practice  until 
1913.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  Aliquippa,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  is  now  established.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Westmoreland 
County,  the  Beaver  County  and  the  American  Medical  associations.  In 
political  matters  he  is  a  Progressive,  and  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions. 
He  has  never  desired  to  hold  public  office,  preferring  to  give  his  entire 
time  and  attention  to  the  arduous  duties  of  his  professional  work.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

Dr.  Engle  married,  in  1888,  Rosa  Shannon,  born  in  New  Sheffield, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1864,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(McKee)  Shannon,  both  now  deceased.  They  have  had  children :  Howard, 
graduated  from  the  high  school,  now  with  the  Frick  Company  of  Scott- 
dale,  married  Jessie  Seaman  and  has  one  child,  William  Oliver;  Edna, 
graduated  from  the  Woman's  College  of  Frederick,  Maryland,  now  a  teacher 
in  Domestic  Science  in  the  Normal  School  at  Lebanon,  Virginia ;  Frederick, 
now  a  student  in  the  Pennsylvania  State  College;  Mabel,  attends  the  Alle- 
gheny high  school;  Emma;  Margaret. 

(IV)  John  G.  Engle,  son  of  Stacey  Dannals  and  Ann  Jane  (Shannon) 
Engle,  was  bom  at  Raccoon  Creek,  March  9,  1868.  He  was  educated  at 
the  Bunkerhill  and  Green  Garden  public  schools,  and  supplemented  this 
with  practical  and  extensive  reading  in  later  life.  He  has  always  resided 
at  Green  Garden  since  his  father  took  up  his  residence  there,  and  is  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land.  In  1882  his  father  had 
planted  two  hundred  peach  trees,  and  Mr.  Engle  has  added  to  this  fruit 
orchard  until  he  now  has  about  three  thousand  peach  trees  in  full  bearing 
condition.  He  is  also  engaged  in  general  farming  to  a  great  extent,  and 
in  addition  grows  other  fruits.     He  makes  a  specialty,  however,  of  the 


S6o  PENNSYLVANIA 

Elberta  peaches.  He  is  a  man  of  remarkable  business  and  executive  abil- 
ity, and  is  personally  connected  with  a  number  of  other  business  enterprises. 
He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Raccoon  Township  Telephone  Com- 
pany, and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  that  company;  it  consolidated  later 
with  the  Beaver  County  Telephone  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Engle  is  now 
a  stockholder.  He  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace ;  is  an  elder  and  mem- 
ber of  the  session  of  the  Service  United  Presbyterian  Church;  and  is  a 
member  of  the  local  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

Mr.  Engle  married,  November  i6,  1898,  Mary  Belle,  daughter  of 
Alexander  G.  Ewing,  and  they  have  had  children:  Walter  Paul,  Grace 
Elizabeth,  Frank  Alexander,  Jennie  Gertrude,  Donald  Albert. 

(IV)  Rev.  William  Joseph  Engle,  son  of  Stacey  Dannals  and  Ann 
Jane  (Shannon)  Engle,  was  bom  in  Moon  township,  Pennsylvania,  March 
25,  1870.  Until  the  age  of  eleven  years  he  attended  the  public  schools  at 
Bunkerhill,  walking  three  miles  to  school  every  day,  and  then  became  a 
pupil  in  the  Green  Garden  schools,  from  which  he  was  graduated.  He 
then  took  a  preparatory  course  at  the  New  Sheflfield  Academy,  going  from 
there  to  Geneva  College.  In  the  meantime  he  had  taught  several  terms  in 
the  public  schools  and  one  year  in  the  New  Sheffield  Academy.  After 
three  years  spent  in  study  at  the  Allegheny  United  Presbyterian  Seminary, 
he  was  assigned  to  a  pastorate  at  Scroggsfield,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for 
a  period  of  six  years.  The  next  three  years  he  was  the  pastor  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  in  Toronto,  Ohio,  and  while  there  his  health 
became  impaired  to  such  an  extent  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  ministry 
for  a  time  at  least.  He  accordingly  came  to  Green  Garden,  Pennsylvania, 
March  16,  1910,  and  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty-six  acres,  planted  this 
with  peach  trees,  with  which  industry  he  has  since  been  identified,  and 
now  has  two  thousand  peach  trees  in  fine  bearing  condition.  During  the 
second  year  of  his  residence  at  Green  Garden,  he  became  the  supply 
preacher  at  Service,  and  has  since  acted  in  that  capacity.  While  a  student 
at  college,  Mr.  Engle  was  president  of  his  class  for  three  years ;  was  the 
captain  of  the  football  team  in  his  senior  year ;  in  his  sophomore  year  was 
the  athletic  editor  of  the  college  paper,  the  literary  editor  in  his  junior 
year,  and  editor  in  chief  during  his  senior  year.  He  was  an  active  member 
of  the  literary  society  of  the  college,  being  elected  president  of  it  during  his 
senior  year.  He  was  the  second  honor  man  of  his  class,  1898,  doing  the 
work  of  four  years  in  the  course  of  three. 

Rev.  Mr.  Engle  married,  March  i,  1905,  Sarah  Belle  Donelson,  of 
Scroggsfield,  Ohio,  and  they  have  had  children:  Oliver  Donelson,  bom 
August  19,  1909,  at  Toronto,  Ohio;  Ralph  Joseph,  born  May  7,  191 1,  at  the 
homestead  at  Green  Garden,  Pennsylvania. 

(IV)  Dr.  Walker  Dannals  Engle,  son  of  Stacey  Dannals  and  Ann 
Jane  (Shannon)  Engle,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  29, 
1873.  As  a  youth  he  attended  the  public  schools,  Sheffield  Academy,  and 
the   Slippery  Rock,   Pennsylvania,   State   Normal   School.     Leaving  the 


BEAVER   COUNTY  561 

latter  institution,  he  taught  school  for  several  years,  then  entering  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  at  Pitts- 
burgh (University  of  Pittsburgh),  and  was  graduated  thence  in  1901. 
His  first  practice  was  begun  in  Sheridan,  Pennsylvania,  whence  he  came 
to  Aliquippa,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  his  practice  in  that  borough 
dating  from  December  6,  1902,  until  his  death,  January  16,  1913,  almost 
exactly  eleven  years  later.  He  was  a  ceaseless  student  of  the  abstruse 
points  of  his  profession,  and  even  after  becoming  well  established  therein 
took  up  post-graduate  work  at  the  Chicago  Polyclinic  Institute,  also  keei>- 
ing  abreast  of  the  most  modern  developments  in  medicine  by  membership 
in  the  County,  State  and  American  Medical  associations.  From  his  youth 
he  was  reared  in  the  United  Presbyterian  faith,  while  his  wife  was  a  Pres- 
byterian, both  becoming  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Dr. 
Engle,  during  his  lifetime,  was  a  universal  favorite  in  the  community  in 
which  he  lived,  was  admired  as  a  man  of  culture  and  erudition,  and  was 
constantly  busied  at  his  profession.  His  were  all  the  qualities  that  com- 
pose the  ideal  physician,  learning,  tact  and  cordial  address,  closely  intri- 
cated  with  those  attributes  that  are  native  to  a  gentleman,  courtesy,  honor, 
virtue  and  probity. 

Dr.  Engle  married,  June  25,  1902,  Kate  Bayne  Torrence,  born  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  25,  1876,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Armor  and  Emma  (Withrow)  Torrence,  both  natives  of  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  the  former  bom  in  1840,  the  latter  October  4,  1843,  died  May 
3,  1902.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Thomas  Armor  Torrence  married 
a  second  time,  his  wife  being  Mrs.  Elizabeth  White,  of  East  Liverpool, 
Ohio,  the  marriage  being  solemnized  in  1907.  Thomas  Armor  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Angeline  (Armor)  Torrence,  natives  of  Beaver  and  Wash- 
ington counties,  respectively,  their  parents  pioneers  of  both  counties. 
Children  of  Thomas  Armor  and  Emma  (Withrow)  Torrence:  Angeline 
Armor,  died  aged  five  years;  Kate  Bayne,  of  previous  mention,  married 
Walker  Dannals  Engle;  Edna  Frances,  Frederick  Earl,  Alexander  Mor- 
rison, Thomas  Armor  Jr.,  Mary  Emma.  Children  of  Walker  Dannals 
and  Kate  Bayne  (Torrence)  Engle:  Catherine,  bom  December  12,  1903; 
Frances  Jane,  January  10,  1905;  Dorothy,  June  21,  1909,  died  January 
6,  1910. 

(IH)  David  Engle,  son  of  George  and  Amy  (Dannals)  Engle,  was 
born  in  what  is  now  Industry  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  22,  1830,  died  there  May  9,  1864.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the 
home  farm  and  it  was  in  every  way  natural  that  he  should  choose  that 
as  his  life  occupation,  purchasing  a  farm  adjoining  the  old  homestead, 
where  he  resided  at  his  death.  Although  his  manner  of  life  was  quiet 
and  unpretentious,  his  well-known  uprightness  of  character  and  correctness 
of  conduct  often  made  him  the  choice  of  his  neighbors  for  township  offices, 
all  of  which  he  accepted  as  the  representative  of  the  Republican  party.  In 
the  United  Brethren  Church  he  was  a  leading  member,  sincere  and  earnest 


562  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  his  worship,  consistent  in  his  life  and  helpful  in  his  labors  for  the  church. 

He  married  Cynthia  Knight,  born  in  Industry  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  January  21,  1832,  died  February  7,  1890,  daughter  of  David 
and  Elizabeth  (Mason)  Knight,  early  residents  of  Industry  township. 
David  Knight  was  a  farmer,  owned  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics.  Both  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Industry  township. 
Children  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Mason)  Knight:  i.  Amos,  deceased; 
was  a  farmer  of  Industry  township.  2.  Lewis,  deceased;  was  a  farmer 
of  Industry  township.  3.  Emanuel,  lives  in  Industry  township.  4.  Cyn- 
thia, of  previous  mention,  married  (first)  David  Engle,  (second)  William 
Ammon.  5.  Elmira,  married  W.  J.  Hoyt,  deceased,  a  soldier  of  the  Civil 
War;  she  lives  in  Industry  township.  6.  Elizabeth,  married  (first)  Thomas 
Exby,  (second)  Jacob  Sierer,  both  deceased;  she  resides  in  Paulding 
county,  Ohio.  7.  Lorenzo  Dow,  died  young.  Children  of  David  and  Cyn- 
thia (Knight)  Engle.  i.  Elizabeth,  born  February  22,  1854;  married 
John  C.  Williams,  and  lives  in  Brighton  township.  2.  Joseph,  born  January 
15,  1856,  died  August  7,  1861,  the  victim  of  an  attack  of  diphtheria.  3. 
Amy,  bom  January  13,  1858,  died  August  13,  1861,  of  the  same  disease 
that  caused  the  death  of  her  brother.  4.  Elmira,  bom  December  30,  i860; 
married  R.  D.  Fleming,  and  lives  in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 5.  David  Jackson,  of  whom  further.  Children  of  William  and 
Cynthia  (Knight-Engle)  Ammon:  i.  Jennie,  died  aged  two  years.  2. 
Lydia,  married  William  Davis,  and  lives  on  a  portion  of  the  old  homestead. 
3.  Cynthia  Birdell,  married  Joseph  Russell,  and  lives  in  Beaver,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 4.  Margaret,  married  J.  Albert  Cooley,  and  lives  in  Niantic,  Illi- 
nois. 

(IV)  David  Jackson  Engle,  son  of  David  and  Cynthia  (Knight) 
Engle,  was  born  in  Industry  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1863.  He  attended  the  public  schools  until  sixteen  years  of  age, 
during  that  period  also  acquiring  an  intimate  knowledge  of  farming  opera- 
tions. On  arriving  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  home  farm,  later  became  half  owner  and  continued  its  cultivation 
until  1905.  In  the  latter  year  he  purchased  and  moved  to  a  fifty-seven 
acre  farm  in  Brighton  township,  on  Dutch  Ridge  road,  which  he  success- 
fully operated  until  the  spring  of  1912,  when  he  sold  it  advantageously 
and  bought  a  farm  of  thirty-five  acres  on  the  Tuscarora  road.  Here  he 
erected  a  modem  buff  brick  residence  and  in  the  spring  of  1913  moved 
to  his  new  home.  He  has  always  made  a  specialty  of  fruit  and  vegetable 
farming  and  at  his  present  farm  continues  these  operations  along  the  same 
lines.  Mr.  Engle  is  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  having  served 
in  various  township  offices.  He  is  a  good  business  man  and  a  thrifty,  suc- 
cessful husbandman. 

Mr.  Engle  married.  May  6,  1891,  Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Homer  Steven- 
son.   Children:    Gertrude,  educated  at  Beaver  high  school,  Beaver  College 


BEAVER    COUNTY  563 

and  Geneva  College,  now  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Aliquippa, 
Pennsylvania;  Carman,  a  graduate  of  Beaver  high  school;  Margaret,  also 
a  graduate  of  Beaver  high  school;  David,  Pauline,  Earl,  Inez,  Virginia, 
Gale,  Jean,  and  Mary  Louise. 


The  name  of  Shannon  is  well  known  in  the  history  of 
SHANNON     Ireland,  and  to  that  country  all  the  American  Shannons 
trace  their  ancestry.     These  ancestors  lived  on  the  banks 
of  the  river  Shannon,  Ireland,  and  were  mainly  engaged  in  agriculture. 

(I)  Shannon  came  to  America  prior  to  the  days  of  the  American 

Revolution  and  was  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  packing  salt  from  Phila- 
delphia. 

(II)  John  Shannon,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  Moon  town- 
ship, Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  family  having  settled  there  at 
an  early  date.  He  married  Elizabeth  Walker,  born  in  Hopewell  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1803,  and  among  their  children  were  the 
following  named :  John  Adams,  see  forward ;  Mrs.  Engle,  who  lives  in  the 
schoolhouse  in  Green  Garden,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  Mrs.  Hannah 
Summerville,  who  resides  in  Woodlawn,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 

(III)  John  Adams  Shannon,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Walker) 
Shannon,  was  born  in  Moon  township,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1824,  and  died  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
February,  1899.  He  received  what  was  considered  a  good  education  for 
those  days,  and  for  a  considerable  period  of  time  was  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  Jackson  county,  Ohio.  Later  he  took  up  the  trade  of  carpentry 
and  also  engaged  in  fanning,  combining  the  two  for  a  period  of  thirty 
years,  when  he  abandoned  the  former,  but  continued  to  reside  upon  his 
farm  on  which  his  death  occurred.  The  farm  consisted  of  two  hundred 
acres  of  well  cultivated  land,  the  products  being  of  a  general  nature.  Mr. 
Shannon  married  Susan  Ewing,  who  was  born  in  1830,  and  who  is  now 
living  with  her  son,  John  W.,  still  in  excellent  health.  They  had  children: 
Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  James,  see  forward;  Rosa,  John  W. 

(IV)  James  Shannon,  son  of  John  Adams  and  Susan  (Ewing)  Shan- 
non, was  born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  25, 
1866.  The  public  schools  of  his  section  furnished  him  with  a  sound,  prac- 
tical education,  and  he  gained  his  farming  knowledge  by  actual  experience 
from  his  earliest  years,  his  entire  life  being  spent  on  a  farm.  He  now 
is  the  owner  of  a  fine  place  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  on  which 
he  raises  fruit  and  general  produce,  and  makes  of  this  a  profitable  under- 
taking. He  is  a  member  of  the  Service  United  Presbyterian  Church.  His 
political  opinions  are  those  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  the  past  six  years. 

Mr.  Shannon  married,  in  1893,  Minnie  Ramsey,  and  they  have  had 
children  as  follows:    Lossie,  John  A.,  Harper,  Blanche,  Elizabeth,  Walker. 


564  PENNSYLVANIA 

James  Kerr  was  born  in  Scotland  and  came  to  the  United 
KERR  States  when  he  was  in  his  early  manhood.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  teamster  at  Salineville,  Ohio,  about  fifteen  miles  from  Wells- 
ville,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  or  seventy-four  years,  and 
was  buried  at  Monroeville.  In  political  matters  he  was  a  consistent  Re- 
publican, and  his  religious  affiliation  was  with  the  Methodist  Church,  to 
which  his  wife  also  belonged.  His  wife,  born  in  Ireland,  died  in  Saline- 
ville, Ohio,  aged  about  seventy-one  or  seventy-three.  Children:  Margaret, 
who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  at  Salineville,  and  is  buried 
there;  Thomas  J.,  see  forward;  John,  deceased,  was  a  resident  of  Saline- 
ville, Ohio. 

(II)  Thomas  J.  Kerr,  son  of  James  Kerr,  was  born  in  Salineville, 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  in  1841,  and  died  at  Wellsville,  March  13,  1896. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Salineville,  supplemented  his  education 
there  with  extended  and  diversified  reading,  and  was  considered  a  man 
of  superior  education.  He  engaged  in  railroad  work,  commencing  with  the 
position  of  brakeman,  or  station  caller  as  they  were  then  termed,  until 
he  rose  to  that  of  conductor,  serving  altogether  for  a  period  of  forty-four 
years,  during  thirty-eight  of  which  he  was  a  conductor.  During  the  Civil 
War  he  enlisted,  but  his  father  secured  his  discharge,  considering  him  too 
young  to  endure  the  strain  of  army  life.  He  gave  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Kerr  married  Elizabeth  McLain,  born  in 
Hammondsville,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Samuel  McLain,  who  was  a  stockman 
and  farmer.  He  drove  stock  over  the  mountains  while  railroads  were 
yet  in  their  infancy,  and  died  in  Hammondsville.  He  married  Mary  Maple, 
and  they  had  children :  Jane,  married  Daniel  Snow ;  Elizabeth,  married  Mr. 
Kerr,  see  above;  Jefferson,  married  (first)  Jennie  Householder,  (second) 
Belle  Jackson,  lives  in  Queen  City;  Carrie,  married  (first)  George  Jackson, 
(second)  James  Hyman,  lives  in  Wellsville;  Albert,  died  in  infancy; 
Daniel,  died  young;  Samuel,  married,  has  one  child,  Jesse,  lives  in  Queen 
City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kerr  have  had  children:  Margaret,  who  lives  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  married  William  Harron,  a  conductor  on  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad,  and  has  children:  Thomas  and  Ilia;  William,  see  forward; 
Mary,  lives  in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio,  married  Frank  Koontz,  in  the  pro- 
vision business,  and  has  children:  Thomas,  Helen,  Mary;  Roy  Samuel, 
lives  in  Wellsville,  is  an  engineer  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  and 
married  Leona  Moore.  The  mother  of  these  children  lives  in  Wellsville 
where  she  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

(Ill)  William  Kerr,  son  of  Thomas  John  and  Elizabeth  (McLain) 
Kerr,  was  born  in  Hammondsville,  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  July  4,  1872. 
His  early  years  were  spent  in  Wellsville,  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  then  took  up  the  business  of  teaming.  He  continued  this  for 
a  time,  then  engaged  in  railroad  work,  but  returned  to  his  former  occu- 
pation, with  which  he  has  been  identified  in  Freedom,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  for  the  past  twelve  years.    Two  years  ago  he  also  established 


"^.^.JLi^^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  565 

himself  in  the  livery  business,  being  the  owner  of  the  only  livery  barn  in 
Freedom,  and  has  been  very  successful  in  this  new  enterprise.  He  gives  his 
political  support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  served  three  years  as  a 
borough  councilman;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  has  a  number  of  fraternal  affiliations,  all  of  Freedom,  among  them 
being  the  following:  Trainmen's  Brotherhood,  Woodmen  of  the  World, 
William  Penn  Club,  Improved  Order  of  Eagles,  and  Order  of  the  Moose. 
Mr.  Kerr  married,  November  11,  1896,  Ida  Belle  Graham,  born  in  Enon, 
Pennsylvania,  December  2,  1877,  daughter  of  Franklin  and  Etta  Jane 
(Smith)  Graham.  Mr.  Graham  was  born  in  New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania, 
May  6,  1839,  was  married  in  August,  1862,  and  is  now  a  machinist  in  Free- 
dom. Mrs.  Graham  was  born  in  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania,  December 
3,  1838,  and  is  now  living  in  Freedom,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  They 
had  children:  i.  Harry,  born  August  16,  1865,  is  a  railroad  man  and  lives 
in  Pittsburgh;  married  Hulda  Zirkel,  who  died  March  18,  1914,  and  their 
children  are:  Helen  and  Lamont.  2.  Clarence,  born  January  31,  1868; 
a  railroad  engineer;  lives  in  Alliance,  Ohio;  married  Jennie  Reader,  and 
has  children:  Clyde  and  Lawrence.  3.  Franklin,  born  May  6,  1871,  died 
in  1877.  4.  Addie  Maria,  born  December  31,  1872,  died  in  1877.  5.  John 
Wilson,  born  April  16,  1875;  an  engine  man;  lives  in  Freedom.  6.  Lee, 
born  October  9,  1880,  died  in  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kerr  have  children: 
Frankland  Fay,  born  September  13,  1899,  and  Russell  Edwin,  born  June  14, 
1906,  both  attending  the  Freedom  graded  school. 


The  Gorsuch  family  has  been  closely  and  beneficially  iden- 
GORSUCH     tified  with  the  interests  of  the  communities  in  which  they 
have  lived  ever  since  their  arrival  in  this  country. 

(I)  David  Gorsuch,  the  immigrant  ancestor  of  the  family,  was  born 
in  Scotland,  and  lived  for  a  time  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  of  Penn- 
sylvania, later  coming  across  the  mountains  with  his  family  and  settling 
in  Allegheny  county. 

(II)  Robert  Gorsuch,  son  of  David  Gorsuch,  was  but  six  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  this  migration,  and  practically  his  entire  life  has  been  spent 
in  the  western  part  of  the  state.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  engaged  in 
digging  coal  in  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh,  later  coming  to  Service  and  pur- 
chasing a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Upper  Service.  This 
was  entirely  timber  land,  and  he  was  obliged  to  fell  the  trees  and  clear  a 
space  in  order  to  erect  the  log  house  in  which  he  and  his  family  lived. 
Having  cleared  a  sufficient  space  to  make  a  productive  farm,  he  was  ac- 
customed to  "pack"  to  Pittsburgh,  taking  all  night  for  the  journey.  He 
would  take  to  the  market  in  Pittsburgh  seventy-eight  cents  worth  of  butter, 
and  with  the  money  thus  realized  would  purchase  and  bring  home  all  of 
those  necessaries  which  the  farm  could  not  produce.  He  remained  on 
the  Upper  Service  farm  about  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  about  1830  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  in   Murdocksville, 


566  PENNSYLVANIA 

where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  married  (first)  EHzabeth 
McCoy,  and  had  children:  John,  Robert,  James,  Rachel.  He  married 
(second)  Nancy  Searight,  who  died  when  Samuel  was  about  eight  years 
of  age,  leaving  children  as  follows:  Eliza  Jane,  Margaret,  Samuel,  see 
forward;  David,  Martha,  Mary  Ann.  Mr.  Gorsuch  married  (third)  Nancy 
Cooper.    No  children  by  this  marriage. 

(HI)  Samuel  Gorsuch,  son  of  Robert  and  Nancy  (Searight)  Gorsuch, 
was  born  on  a  farm  in  Independence  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, January  13,  1845.  He  was  educated  at  the  Gorsuch  school,  and 
at  an  early  age  commenced  to  assist  in  the  farm  labors.  The  live-stock 
of  the  farm  had  an  especial  interest  for  him,  and  as  he  grew  older  he  de- 
voted himself  more  exclusively  to  the  breeding  of  fine  and  highly  valued 
varieties.  He  has  a  flock  of  thoroughbred  Delan  sheep  which  won  a  repu- 
tation many  years  ago.  He  has  made  many  improvements  on  the  farm 
which  he  originally  occupied  and  it  is  now  one  of  the  finest  of  its  kind  and 
size  in  the  township.  He  is  a  strong  supporter  of  Republican  principles, 
and  has  held  official  position  a  number  of  times.  He  was  health  officer  for 
this  township  and  for  Hanover  for  a  period  of  five  years,  and  had  charge 
of  twenty-one  schools.  He  also  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty- 
seven  years.  For  more  than  thirty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Session  of  Mount  Olivet,  and  is  the  oldest  living  member.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  Mount  Olivet  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Gorsuch  married,  in  1878,  Martha  J.,  daughter  of  John  Brenton, 
of  Independence  township.  Children:  Mary  A.,  married  Robert  Miller, 
of  Independence  township;  Wilson  R.,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years. 


The  name  of  McElhaney  is  of  Scotch  or  Irish  origin, 

McELHANEY     persumably  the  former,  and  the  representatives  of  this 

family   in   the   United    States   have   inherited   the   best 

traits  of  their  ancestors,  as  their  thrift  and  business  ability  have  amply 

proved. 

(I)  George  McElhaney,  the  first  of  the  name  of  whom  we  have  of- 
ficial record  in  this  country,  settled  on  a  large  tract  of  land  prior  to  1800 
and  this  is  still  in  possession  of  the  family. 

(II)  William  McElhaney,  son  of  George  McElhaney,  was  the  owner 
of  eight  hundred  acres  of  land  at  the  time  of  his  death,  a  part  of  this 
being  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Independence  township,  and 
when  he  went  to  the  farm  which  he  later  occupied  he  was  obliged  to  blaze 
his  way  through  the  trackless  forest,  and  clear  the  land  of  the  timber  with 
which  it  was  overgrown.  At  the  time  of  the  Mexican  War  he  enlisted  in 
the  American  army,  but  after  his  arrival  at  Lake  Erie,  he  hired  a  sub- 
stitute and  returned  to  his  family.  Two  of  his  brothers — William  and 
Alexander — were  drafted  during  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War,  and  also 
sent  substitutes.  Mr.  McElhaney  married  Lydia  Strauss,  also  a  resident 
of  Independence  township,  but  a  native  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  567 

(III)  George  (2)  McElhaney,  son  of  William  and  Lydia  (Strauss) 
McElhaney,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  next  to 
the  one  on  which  his  son,  W.  J.,  now  resides.  He  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools,  and  at  an  early  age  assisted  with  the  labors  of  the  home 
farm.  He  had  a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land  which  he  cultivated 
to  good  advantage.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sarah 
(Woods)  McCoy,  all  natives  of  Beaver  county,  in  which  Mr.  McCoy  was 
a  pioneer  settler. 

(IV)  W.  J.  McElhaney,  son  of  George  (2)  and  Elizabeth  (McCoy) 
McElhaney,  was  born  in  Independence  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1845.  The  public  schools  furnished  him  with  a  good  practical 
education,  and  upon  its  completion  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  this  he  has 
been  very  successful,  but  he  has  not  rested  on  these  laurels.  The  field  of 
cattle  raising  appealed  to  him  as  being  an  interesting  and  lucrative  one, 
and  in  this  he  has  not  been  mistaken.  He  has  a  farm  of  four  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  in  Independence  township  and  a  further  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  acres,  and  this  is  all  devoted  to  general  farming, 
to  the  raising  of  short  horns,  and  largely  to  the  breeding  of  sheep,  of 
which  he  has  many  fine  varieties.  He  had  installed  all  the  most  modern 
improvements  on  his  farms,  and  work  on  them  is  simplified  and  made  prac- 
tical to  the  utmost.  A  part  of  Mr.  McElhaney's  farm  was  the  old  home- 
stead of  his  grandfather  McElhaney,  in  fact  all  but  thirty-two  acres  of 
what  he  owns  was  the  property  of  his  grandfather.  He  has  made  his  own 
way  from  boyhood,  and  established  himself  independently  when  he  was 
but  twenty-three  years  of  age,  renting  a  farm  of  his  father  for  eight 
years,  paying  two  hundred  dollars  per  year;  he  then  bought  the  place  and 
has  since  made  his  home  on  the  same.  His  patriotism  has  been  a  dis- 
tinguishing trait  in  his  character.  In  the  public  affairs  of  the  township  and 
the  county  he  has  also  been  active  in  behalf  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
has  been  honored  with  public  office  a  number  of  times.  Among  these 
offices  may  be  mentioned:  Road  commissioner  several  times,  auditor  and 
school  director,  in  each  and  all  of  which  he  did  excellent  service.  In 
religious  faith  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 

Mr.  McElhaney  married,  in  1867,  Elizabeth  Miller,  and  they  have  had 
children:  Mary;  George,  deceased;  Margaret;  Calvin;  Anna;  Ethel; 
Howard,  deceased. 


EHjah  Barnes  was  born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county, 
BARNES     Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  farmer  for  many  years.    During  the 

Civil  War  he  was  a  member  of  Company  F,  Forty-sixth 
Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  through  the  entire 
contest.  He  had  an  arm  taken  off  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  on  another  occasion.  He  married  Mary  Dunn,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, and  had  children:  Ella  M.,  Robert,  Walter,  see  forward;  Elvira. 
He  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  and  his  family  were  mem- 


568  PENNSYLVANIA 

bers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mary  (Dunn)  Barnes  was 
the  daughter  of  Walter  and  Ellen  (Brownlee)  Dunn,  both  born  in  Scotland, 
who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1847  and  located  near  Sewickley,  Penn- 
sylvania. Later  they  removed  to  Bellows ville,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Dunn 
was  a  farmer  both  in  Scotland  and  America,  and  they  had  fifteen  children. 

Walter  Dunn  Barnes,  son  of  Elijah  and  Mary  (Dunn)  Barnes,  was 
born  in  Vanport,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1868.  For  a  time  he 
attended  the  public  schools  in  Bridgewater,  and  at  the  age  of  nine  years  he 
was  sent  to  an  orphans'  school  at  Monaca,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  then  transferred  to 
Butler.  He  then  came  to  the  farm  on  which  he  is  residing  at  the  present 
time  in  Shippingport,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade.  He  worked  at  Beaver  Falls  for  six  years,  then  went 
to  McCleary,  and  there  followed  his  calling  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years. 
In  the  spring  of  1913  he  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  is  now  living,  and  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
has  always  been  active  in  local  political  matters,  and  has  held  the  offices 
of  assessor,  collector  and  constable  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  staunch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  of  the  local  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  Mr. 
Barnes  married,  February  9,  1898,  Jennie  Ewing,  daughter  of  David  and 
Sarah  A.  (Thornburg)  Ewing,  of  Raccoon  township  (see  Ewing  III). 
(The  Ewing  Line.) 

The  Ewings  came  to  America  at  a  very  early  date  and  settled  in 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  They  migrated  to  Allegheny  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1787,  and  took  up  farming  in  Beaver  county,  about  1802,  on 
Raccoon  creek.  This  was  the  paternal  great-grandfather  of  the  present 
generation,  and  after  a  time  he  presented  to  the  local  government  what 
is  now  Raccoon  township,  and  resided  in  that  region  until  his  death. 

(II)  John  Ewing,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  in  active  service  during 
the  War  of  1812,  and  was  discharged  after  he  had  been  crippled  while  in 
service.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Service  United  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  married  Jane  McCallister,  of  Irish  descent. 

(III)  David  Ewing,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (McCallister)  Ewing,  was 
born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools.  He  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  but  also  active  as  a 
farmer,  and  bought  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land.  He  was  an  active 
worker  in  the  Republican  party,  and  served  many  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  A.,  born  in  Raccoon  township,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Nancy 

(Bounton)   Thornburg,  and  granddaughter  of  James  and  (Veasey) 

Thornburg.  Children:  Rufus;  Stanton  F.,  see  forward;  Elizabeth  K. ; 
Ellis  and  Willis,  twins,  the  latter  deceased;  Jennie,  married  Walter  Dunn 
Barnes  (see  Barnes). 

(IV)  Stanton  F.  Ewing,  son  of  David  and  Sarah  A.   (Thornburg) 


BEAVER   COUNTY  569 

Ewing,  was  bom  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1862.  His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools 
and  this  was  supplemented  by  tuition  in  a  private  school  at  Shippingport. 
He  took  up  farming  in  the  township  and  is  now  located  on  the  farm  which 
had  belonged  to  his  father.  Like  his  father,  he  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  community  affairs  as  a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
has  served  as  school  director,  supervisor,  and  as  county  commissioner,  1909- 
loii.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Ewing 
married,  in  1889,  Elvira  Barnes  and  they  have  children:  Hester  Mary, 
Sarah  Leona,  Nellie  Brownlee,  Myra  Jane,  Henry  Freemont,  Elizabeth 
Vem. 


The  records  of  the  lives  of  our  ancestors  are  of  interest  to 
CONKLE     the  modern  citizen,  not  alone  for  their  historical  value,  which 

is  great,  but  for  the  inspiration  and  example  which  they 
afford.  Among  those  who  have  come  to  this  country  from  Europe,  those 
from  the  land  of  Germany  or  from  German  speaking  countries,  have  done 
particularly  excellent  service.  They  have  been  frugal,  thrifty  and  indus- 
trious, and  have  always  worked  for  the  best  interests  of  the  communities 
in  which  they  have  resided.     To  this  class  belongs  the  Conkle  family. 

(I)  Henry  Conkle,  who  was  born  in  that  part  of  Russia  where  the 
German  language  is  spoken  most  frequently,  was  a  very  young  child  when 
he  came  to  America  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Ohio.  In  that  state  he 
grew  to  manhood.  When  he  had  attained  man's  estate,  he  removed  near 
Hookstown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  took  up  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  land  from  the  government.  He  cleared 
this,  which  was  a  wilderness  when  it  came  into  his  possession,  erected  sub- 
stantial log  buildings  as  a  dwelling  house,  barn,  etc.,  and  died  on  this  land 
in  1840.  He  was  noted  as  an  Indian  scout  and  hunter,  and  his  grandson, 
James  McCready  Conkle,  still  has  in  his  possession  some  of  the  weapons 
used  by  Mr.   Conkle.     Mr.  Conkle  was   twice  married,  his  second  wife 

surviving  him.     Children  by  first  marriage:     Betsey,  who  married  

Lewis,  and  died  in  Ohio ;  Sarah,  married Shalk,  and  died  near  Hooks- 
town;  Polly,  married  Glenn,  and  died  near  Hookstown;  John,  of 

further  mention;  Jacob;  Samuel,  died  in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio;  George, 
died  in  Iowa.  Children  of  second  marriage:  Henry,  died  on  the  home- 
stead; William;  Mattie,  married  Twiford,  and  died  in  Iowa;  Mar- 
garet, died  unmarried. 

(II)  John  Conkle,  son  of  Henry  Conkle  and  his  first  wife,  was  bom 
near  Hookstown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  about  1796,  died  about 
1885.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  part  of  the  family  homestead, 
and  there  erected  a  fine  log  house.  He  cultivated  this  property  for  many 
years,  and  late  in  life  removed  to  Hookstown,  where  his  death  occurred. 
He  married  Catherine  Pursley,  born  in  1812,  near  Greensburg,  West- 
moreland county,  Pennsylvania,  the  only  daughter  of  her  father  by  a  sec- 


570  PENNSYLVANIA 

ond  marriage,  and  died  many  years  before  her  husband.  They  had  chil- 
dren :     Henry,  a  carpenter,  died  in  Nebraska ;  Mary  Ann,  married  

Hubbell,  and  died  in  Hookstown;  Jacob,  died  in  infancy;  Margaret,  mar- 
ried Peter  Cook,  and  died  in  Hookstown;  John,  a  carpenter,  died  in 
Urbana,  Illinois;  James  McCready,  of  further  mention;  Milton,  died  while 
in  service  during  the  Civil  War;  William,  a  soldier,  and  later  a  steamboat 
steward,  died  in  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania;  Vincent,  an  old  soldier,  now 
lives  in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio;  Robert,  deceased,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
War  and  served  three  years  in  that  conflict. 

(Ill)  James  McCready  Conkle,  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Pursley) 
Conkle,  was  born  near  Hookstown,  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, September  lo,  1832.  After  completing  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  near  his  birthplace,  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade,  with  which  he  was  occupied  until  1852.  He  then  became 
a  millwright,  and  followed  this  calling  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  after 
which  he  went  to  work  as  a  pattern  maker.  In  1864-65  he  was  engaged 
in  transportation  work  on  the  Mississippi  river  for  the  government.  He 
next  settled  at  Island  Run,  Elk  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  drilled  for 
oil  and  remained  one  year.  Removing  to  Beaver  Falls,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1867,  he  has  lived  there  since  that  time.  He  followed 
his  calling,  however,  in  both  Beaver  Falls  and  in  Pittsburgh.  Some  time 
ago  he  retired  from  active  business  interests,  and  now  lives  at  No.  920 
Eighth  avenue.  He  erected  several  buildings  on  Seventh  avenue,  but  has 
sold  all  of  these  with  the  exception  of  one.  Mr.  Conkle  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  lodge  and 
encampment  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Conkle  married,  July  26,  1866,  Mary  McKeage,  born  in  Industry, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  October  16,  1849,  daughter  of  Robert  Mc- 
Keage, born  in  Norristown,  Pennsylvania.  He  came  to  Industry  in  1847, 
and  removed  to  Glasgow  in  the  same  county,  in  i860.  He  was  a  cooper 
by  trade,  following  this  occupation  all  of  his  life,  and  died  in  Philadelphia, 
whither  he  had  removed.  He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Maria  Ruth,  both  natives  of  Pottstown,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was 
a  tailor.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Conkle,  Robert  McKeage,  was 
also  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  died  in  Philadelphia ;  he  married  Mary  Hetzel, 
both  being  natives  of  Norristown.  Mrs.  Hannah  (Ruth)  McKeage  died  in 
Coraopolis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conkle  had  children:  Charles  E.,  a  molder, 
lives  in  Beaver  Falls;  Walter  B.,  a  molder,  Hves  in  Beaver  Falls;  Paul, 
died  in  infancy;  Roy  E.,  a  clerk,  lives  with  his  parents. 


The  Shane  family,  which  is  now  represented  in  Beaver  county, 
SHANE     Pennsylvania,  has  been   noted   for  some  generations   for  the 

faithful  manner  in  which  they  perform  their  duties  in  the 
various  stations  of  life  to  which  they  have  been  called.  They  came  origin- 
ally from  Ireland,  and  the  fine  dominant  traits  of  that  nation  are  still  ap- 
parent. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  571 

(I)  John  Shane  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1822, 
and  died  1913,  in  Mansfield,  Pennsylvania.  His  education  was  acquired  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  day,  and  for  many  years  he  was  occupied  with 
farming.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  car- 
pentry, then  removed  to  Swaynesville,  where  he  worked  as  a  wagon 
maker.  He  then  removed  to  Mansfield,  Ohio,  where  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Alton  Taylor  Machine  Company  as  a  wagon  builder,  and  then 
again  as  a  carpenter.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Service  Church  during 
the  years  he  lived  in  that  town,  and  joined  the  Mansfield  Church  when 
he  removed  there.  He  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War, 
and  served  a  ninety-day  term.  Mr.  Shane  married  (first)  Mary  Ewing, 
(second)  Belle  Wycoflf.  Children  by  first  marriage:  John  Henry,  de- 
ceased; Helen  Jane;  Angeline;  Caroline,  died  in  early  youth;  Cornelius 
Calvin,  see  forward.  Children  by  second  marriage :  Presley,  deceased ;  Wil- 
liam. 

(II)  Cornelius  Calvin  Shane,  youngest  child  of  John  and  Mary  (Ew- 
ing) Shane,  was  born  in  Service,  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, September  27,  1857.  ^^  was  but  three  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  the  death  of  his  mother,  and  he  was  taken  to  the  farm  of  his 
maternal  grandparents,  John  and  Jane  (McCallister)  Ewing,  and  there 
his  childhood  and  youth  were  spent,  and  there  he  attended  the  public 
schools  and  acquired  his  education.  His  grandparents  were  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  that  section  of  the  country  and  were  held  in  high 
esteem.  The  homestead  farm  consisted  of  three  hundred  acres  and  was 
considered  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  that  region.  Mr.  Ewing  died  in  1866. 
Mr.  Shane  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
has  one  farm  at  Shippingport,  Beaver  county,  which  comprises  one  hun- 
dred acres,  and  another  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres,  both  in  a 
fine  state  of  cultivation  for  general  produce.  He  keeps  these  two  farms 
up  to  the  mark  in  every  particular,  providing  them  with  the  latest  im- 
provements in  farm  implements  and  machinery  and  with  the  necessary 
buildings.  The  house  which  is  used  as  a  residence  at  the  present  time  was 
erected  by  William  Ewing  in  1886.  He  has  been  a  very  public-spirited  citi- 
zen, and  as  a  representative  of  the  Republican  party,  he  has  been  elected 
and  appointed  to  a  number  of  public  offices,  which  he  has  filled  with  dignity 
and  with  satisfaction  to  all  concerned.  He  served  as  assessor  and  collector 
of  the  township  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  and  was  constable  for  six 
years.  He  is  a  liberal  member  of  the  Mount  Pleasant  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  a  regular  attendant. 

Mr.  Shane  married,  in  the  spring  of  1881,  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Kennedy,  a  stone  mason  of  Greene  township.  They  have  been  blessed 
with  the  following  named  children:  William  E.,  who  lives  in  Monaca, 
Beaver  county ;  Wallace  L.,  Lyle  K.,  Frederick  W.,  Lester  C,  at  home. 


572  PENNSYLVANIA 

The  Henderson  family  of  whom  this  review  treats  is 
HENDERSON     of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  the  family  having  been  orig- 
inally of  Scotland,  from  whence  it  migrated  to  Ireland, 
and  ultimately  came  to  this  country. 

(I)  Joseph  Henderson  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  this  country 
with  his  wife  and  family.  He  landed  at  Philadelphia,  where  his  wife  died 
a  few  days  after  landing.  He  reached  Fallston,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, about  1848,  and  died  there  after  a  residence  of  about  one  year.  In 
Ireland  he  had  been  a  farmer,  and  followed  the  same  occupation  in  the 
United  States.    He  married  Martha  Hamilton. 

(II)  Robert  Henderson,  son  of  Joseph  and  Martha  (Hamilton) 
Henderson,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  learned  to  read  and  write  after  his 
arrival  in  this  country.  He  was  an  apt  student  and  acquired  knowledge 
rapidly,  and  in  later  life  made  good  use  of  the  advantages  he  had  gained. 
He  went  westward  to  Pittsburgh,  where  he  arrived  with  fifty  cents  in  his 
pocket,  and  from  that  city  walked  to  Fallston,  alone,  when  he  was  but 
sixteen  years  of  age.  He  dug  coal,  and  worked  in  a  bucket  factory  in 
Fallston,  and  when  he  had  acquired  a  sufficient  capital,  he  removed  to 
Raccoon  township,  where  he  purchased  land.  At  first  he  bought  one  hun- 
dred acres,  to  this  he  added  fifty-two  as  opportunity  offered,  and  finally 
added  another  hundred.  This  he  cleared  to  a  great  extent  for  general 
farming  purposes,  and  there  he  died,  in  1900.  His  religious  allegiance 
was  with  the  Bethlehem  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  a  staunch  Re- 
publican in  his  political  views,  and  served  as  school  director  and  as  su- 
pervisor. During  the  Civil  War  he  did  excellent  service  as  a  recruiting 
officer.  He  married  Sarah  McCullough,  who  died  in  1905,  daughter  of 
Dr.  William  and  Mary  (Cobbey)  McCullough,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ireland,  the  latter  born  in  England,  who  met  on  the  vessel  on  which  they 
made  the  voyage  to  America,  and  were  married  upon  their  arrival  at 
Philadelphia.  They  settled  in  Georgetown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  a  physician  with  an  excellent  practice.  Dr.  McCullough  had 
been  the  recipient  of  an  excellent  education  in  Ireland,  and  his  brother 
was  county  surveyor,  and  it  is  thought  that  he  laid  out  the  county;  his 
name  was  Hugh  McCullough.  Robert  and  Sarah  (McCullough)  Hender- 
son had  children,  as  follows:  Joseph,  William  John,  Samuel  Tucker, 
Robert  Thomas,  Benjamin  Franklin,  James  Madison. 

(III)  James  Madison  Henderson,  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  (McCul- 
lough) Henderson,  was  born  in  Fallston,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Jan- 
uary 16,  1857.  With  the  exception  of  a  period  of  six  months  the  entire 
life  of  Mr.  Henderson  has  been  spent  on  the  farm,  the  old  homestead. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  having  a  natural  taste  for 
reading  he  has  become  a  very  well  informed  man.  He  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising,  in  both  of  which  fields  he  has  met  with 
decided  success.  He  is  a  wide  awake  and  progressive  man,  keeping  well 
abreast  of  the  times,  and  politically  supports  the  Republican  party.     Al- 


1227159 

BEAVER    COUNTY  573 

though  he  has  never  sought  public  office,  he  has  been  honored  by  the 
proffer  of  it,  and  has  served  as  supervisor  of  the  township.  Mr.  Hender- 
son married,  in  1882,  Lettilda  Hineman,  and  they  have  children,  all  of 
whom  have  been  successful  teachers:  Jessie  Mabel,  married  Harry  Thorn- 
burg,  of  Raccoon  township;  Benjamin  Franklin,  married  Mabel  Viola  Hart- 
man;  Samuel  Clarence,  graduated  from  Grove  City  College,  principal  of 
the  high  school  at  Monaca,  and  is  now  preparing  for  entrance  as  a  minister 
into  the  Presbyterian  Church;  Eugene  Leslie,  a  teacher;  Stanley  Osborne, 
a  teacher. 


The   Kennedy   family,   now  of   Beaver   county,   Pennsyl- 
KENNEDY    vania,    while    it   has    not   been    resident    in   this    country 

many  generations,  has  fully  proved  its  worth  as  containing 
earnest  and  patriotic  citizens,  and  men  who  have  risen  to  prominence  in 
various  fields  of  industry. 

(I)  Samuel  Kennedy  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  America  with 
three  sons.  He  located  in  the  Allegheny  mountains,  removing  to  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1790,  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres. 
There  he  built  a  cabin  in  which  he  lived  for  a  time,  and  in  1809  erected  a 
stone  dwelling.  This  is  still  standing  in  good  condition  and  is  now  the 
property  of  the  heirs  of  Alexander  Moore.  He  and  his  sons  cleared  much 
of  this  land  and  made  it  very  profitable.  For  a  time  he  was  a  Seceder,  but 
later  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  (first) 
Martha  Bowl,  (second)  Fannie  McClure. 

(H)  Samuel  (2)  Kennedy,  son  of  Samuel  (i)  and  Martha  (Bowl) 
Kennedy,  was  bom  in  Ireland,  March  29,  1797,  and  was  a  child  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States  with  his  father.  He  was  educated  in  the  country 
district  schools,  and  was  mainly  engaged  in  farming,  although  he  was  also 
a  woodsman  and  a  carpenter.  Much  of  the  timber  which  he  cut  down  was 
used  in  the  building  of  boats.  He  was  the  owner  of  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven  acres,  on  which  he  lived  at  first  in  a  log  house,  built 
by  himself.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  was  in  office  for  a  con- 
siderable length  of  time  as  supervisor  and  also  as  school  director.  For 
many  years  he  was  an  elder  in  the  Service  United  Presbyterian  Church. 
Mr.  Kennedy  married  Jane,  born  near  the  mouth  of  Service  Creek,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  Bryan,  who  were  early  settlers  in  that  region,  and  also 
members  of  the  Service  United  Presbyterian  Church.  They  had  thirteen 
children. 

(Ill)  Samuel  Smith  Kennedy,  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and  Jane  (Bryan) 
Kennedy,  was  born  on  the  homestead  farm,  on  which  he  still  resides, 
October  17,  1840.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the  town- 
ship, and  has  never  been  away  from  his  farm  with  the  exception  of  six 
months  which  he  spent  in  West  Virginia.  He  cultivates  his  farm  for  gen- 
eral produce,  and  is  eminently  successful  in  this  endeavor.  He  and  his 
sons  erected  a  fine  and  commodious  new  house  in  19 10,  and  this  has  been 


574  PENNSYLVANIA 

supplied  with  all  modern  conveniences.  During  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy took  no  active  part  in  the  struggle,  as  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  stay  at  home 
and  look  after  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  his  parents,  and  that  of  the 
family  of  his  brother  John,  who  was  drafted.  The  latter  returned  safely 
from  the  war,  and  the  old  order  was  resumed.  Mr.  Kennedy  and  his 
family  were  formerly  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Hookstown,  now  they  are  Seventh  Day  Adventists.  He  casts  his  vote  in 
favor  of  the  Democratic  candidates,  has  served  as  school  director,  and  has 
been  offered  the  post  of  justice  of  the  peace  but  has  declined. 

Mr.  Kennedy  married,  June  9,  1868,  Mary  Jane  Smith,  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, daughter  of  David  Smith,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  Confederate 
army.  They  have  had  children:  Dora  Lena,  Charles  Howard,  Jennie 
Magdala,  Carrie  Elizabeth,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Frank 
Estie,  David  Samuel,  Smith  Albert,  Elisha  Edwin,  Ella  Belle,  Robert 
Livingston,  John  Bryan,  Lily  Vern,  Isalina,  died  in  infancy. 


James  Cargo,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  emigrated  to  the 
CARGO  United  States  shortly  after  his  marriage.  He  arrived  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  from  there  went  across  the  mountains  and  founded 
a  home  for  himself  and  his  family  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a 
tailor  by  trade,  and  was  the  first  tailor  of  Pittsburgh,  his  place  of  business 
being  at  what  is  now  Liberty  street  and  Sixth  avenue.  He  remained  a 
resident  of  Pittsburgh  until  his  death  which  occurred  in  1847.  He  was  a 
staunch  supporter  of  the  Whig  party.  He  and  his  family  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married,  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  Mary  Clancy, 
a  native  of  that  city,  who  died  in  Pittsburgh  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  Children:  Eliza,  John  Alexander,  James,  William,  Sarah, 
Robert,  George,  Joseph  Markel,  see  forward ;  Margaret,  Mary,  died  young ; 
an  infant,  now  deceased. 

(II)  Joseph  Markel  Cargo,  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Qaney)  Cargo, 
was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  October  31,  1843.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  in  the  suburbs  of  Pittsburgh,  and  although  he 
was  scarcely  more  than  a  young  lad  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  he  at 
once  offered  his  services  in  defense  of  what  he  considered  the  rights  of 
his  beloved  country.  He  enlisted,  in  i86z,  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  General  Lee,  and 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  A  partial  list  of  the  battles  in 
which  he  participated  is  as  follows :  Fredericksburg,  Antietam,  Chancellors- 
ville,  Gettysburg,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Cold  Harbor, 
Petersburg,  Bethesda  Church,  Beaver's  Farm,  Boydon  Plank  Road,  Five 
Forks,  and  many  other  skirmishes  and  smaller  engagements.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  Pittsburgh  and  there  engaged  in  the  contracting 
business  which  he  followed  for  many  years.  In  1886  he  removed  to  Roch- 
ester and  was  for  a  time  a  contractor  there.     He  was  elected  to  the  office 


/^^52-y^  /^j^^3>^^^^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  575 

of  justice  of  the  peace  in  1898,  and  is  still  holding  that  position.  In  March, 
1910,  he  was  appointed  burgess  and  is  now  serving  that  term.  Mr.  Cargo 
has  always  been  an  ardent  Republican,  and  cast  his  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Beaver  County  Telephone  Company,  and 
is  the  owner  of  much  real  estate  in  Rochester.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  holds  membership  in 
Post  No.  183,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  which  he  held  the  office  of 
Post  commander,  and  the  Union  Veterans'  Legion,  Camp  No.  72,  of 
Rochester. 

Mr.   Cargo  married    (first)    January  7,    1867,   Laura   L.  Rhodes,  of 

Allegheny  City,  and  had  children:     Charles,  married  Ada  and  lives 

in  Burlington,  Vermont;  Jane,  deceased,  married  George  Musser,  and  left 
children:  Grover,  Laura  and  Mildred;  William,  a  resident  of  Rochester, 
married  Hattie  Blaine,  and  has  one  child ;  Warren,  resides  in  Buffalo,  New 

York,  married  Clara ,  has  no  children;  Lida,  resides  with  her  father. 

Mr.  Cargo  married  second)  Annabell  Graham,  but  has  no  children  by 
this  marriage. 


Alexander  Kennedy,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  came  to 
KENNEDY     this  country  as  a  young  lad  more  than  a  century  ago.    He, 

in  company  with  his  brother,  located  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  but  they  soon  separated,  each  going  his  own  way.  Alexander 
remained  in  Beaver  county,  wiiere  he  married  at  Links  Bridge,  Emeline 
McMertrie,  who  was  born  there.  Her  father  was  Colonel  McMertrie,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  section,  coming  there 
when  it  was  still  almost  a  wilderness.  Colonel  McMertrie  brought  his 
possessions  to  the  place  on  a  wheelbarrow,  built  a  log  cabin,  and  cleared 
the  land  for  farming  purposes. 

(II)  John  Kennedy,  son  of  Alexander  and  Emeline  (McMertrie) 
Kennedy,  was  born  at  Seventysix,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  in  Green  Garden,  being  obliged  to  walk 
from  six  to  seven  miles  daily.  He  became  the  owner  of  almost  seven  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  at  Seventysix,  the  greater  part  of  which  he  cleared.  He 
bought  four  hundred  acres  near  Green  Garden,  cleared  and  broke  it,  and 
erected  a  log  house  there,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  where 
he  was  in  business  as  a  live  stock  dealer.  He  lived  in  Pittsburgh  and  its 
vicinity  for  about  seven  years,  then  removed  to  Allegheny  county,  where 
he  purchased  eighty-five  acres,  and  there  his  death  occurred.  He  was  of 
unusually  large  stature  and  of  great  strength.  His  political  affiliation  was 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  David  and  Polly  (Philips) 
Alexander,  who  were  also  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  Chil- 
dren :  William,  David  A.,  see  forward ;  Emeline  Jane,  Sadie,  Matilda,  Mary, 
John,  Louise. 

(III)  David  Alexander  Kennedy,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Alex- 


576  PENNSYLVANIA 

ander)  Kennedy,  was  born  at  Seventysix,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
July  30,  i868.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Beaver  county, 
remaining  with  his  father  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  then 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  for  whom  he  had  charge 
of  the  wells  located  between  Sheffield  and  Burgettstown.  After  some  time 
spent  at  Imperial,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  also  in  the  employ  of 
the  Standard  Oil  Company,  he  resigned  his  position  with  them,  and  formed 
a  connection  with  the  Ohio  Valley  Oil  Company,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  a  period  of  eight  years,  in  the  states  of  Ohio  and  West  Virginia.  In 
T907  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  twelve  acres  of  land  in  Hanover  town- 
ship, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  devotes  his  entire  time  now  to 
farming  and  stock  raising,  in  which  fields  he  has  achieved  a  very  satisfac- 
tory amount  of  success.  He  has  never  taken  a  very  active  part  in  the 
political  affairs  of  the  community,  but  gives  his  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Kennedy  married.  May  5,  1891,  Emma  Cain,  born  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  which  she  has  always  lived,  and  who  was  one 
of  a  family  of  fourteen  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  have  children: 
Elizabeth,  married  Straus  Keifer,  and  lives  in  West  Virginia;  Eva,  who  is 
at  home  with  her  parents. 


In  the  earlier  half  of  the  nineteenth  century  William  Glenn 
GLENN     with  his  wife  and  family  crossed  the  mountains  and  settled  for 

a  time  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  1835  he  re- 
moved to  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land.  Returning  to  Washington  county  alone  for 
a  time,  he  died  and  was  buried  there.  He  married  Mary  Chapman  and 
had  several  children. 

(II)  David  Glenn,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Chapman)  Glenn,  was 
born  in  the  eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania,  and  crossed  the  mountains  with 
his  parents.  He  was  probably  old  enough  to  have  acquired  his  education 
before  this  journey  was  undertaken.  Between  1835  and  1840  he  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Beaver  county,  in  association  with 
his  brother,  but  later  he  owned  it  alone,  having  bought  his  brother's  in- 
terest. He  cleared  a  portion  of  the  land  and  erected  the  necessary  dwelling 
house  as  well  as  barns  and  outhouses,  and  was  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  very  successfully.  He  was  sixty  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  In  political  matters  he  was  a  Republican.  He  married 
Mary  Conkle,  whose  parents  were  pioneers  near  Hookstown,  and  who  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  They  were  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church,  at  first  going  as  far  as  Hanover  to  attend,  but  later  going 
to  Hookstown.  Of  their  nine  children  the  following  named  grew  to 
maturity:  Margaret  Conkle,  bom  m  1840;  Mary  Jane  Conkle,  William, 
Thomas  C. 

(III)  Thomas  C.  Glenn,  son  of  David  and  Mary   (Conkle)   Glenn, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  577 

was  born  on  the  Glenn  homestead  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April 
26,  1850.  He  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  which  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  at  an  early  age  in  order  to  assist  in  the  support  of  the  family.  He 
has  always  resided  on  the  homestead  farm,  having  purchased  one  hundred 
acres  of  this  homestead  and  has  improved  it  in  many  directions.  Among 
these  improvements  are  a  number  of  fine  buildings  which  have  been 
erected  by  his  direction  and  at  his  expense.  The  farm  is  still  cultivated  for 
general  produce,  and  is  now  under  the  personal  management  of  a  nephew 
of  Mr.  Glenn,  although  his  is  still  the  guiding  spirit.  For  many  years  he 
has  been  a  factor  to  be  reckoned  with  in  the  councils  of  the  Republican 
party  of  that  section  of  the  country,  and  it  has  greatly  profited  thereby. 
He  has  served  as  auditor  and  supervisor  of  Greene  township,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Republican  county  committee.  His  religious  affiliation  is 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


The  Whitehills  are  of  Scotch  descent,  and  were  first 
WHITEHILL     found  in  America  in  1723.    The  founder  of  the  family 

in  this  country,  James  Whitehill,  was  born  in  Scotland, 
February  i,  1700,  and  came  to  America  in  1723,  at  which  time  he  settled 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  obtained  his  first  warrant  for  land  on  December 
2,  1734,  his  tract  being  situated  near  the  head  of  Pequea  creek,  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania.  For  more  than  one  hundred  years  this  creek  was 
known  as  Whitehill's  Run,  and  is  now  called  Henderson's  Run.  He  ap- 
pears to  have  prospered  and  later  made  other  large  purchases  of  land. 

(I)  James  Whitehill,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  immigrant  ancestor,  was 
bom  on  the  family  homestead,  a  little  below  Kendall,  Hanover  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  his  marriage  took  place.  Shortly 
afterward  he  purchased  a  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  in  Hanover  township, 
on  which  he  built  a  house,  but  about  1850  removed  to  the  Ewing  place  in 
Greene  township ;  he  retained  his  ownership  of  the  farm  in  Hanover  township, 
later  returned  to  it,  and  died  there  in  1856.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Whig  party,  and  served  as  township  assessor  and  as  constable.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Mill  Creek  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
married  Martha  Ewing,  and  had  children:  James,  a  farmer  who  died  in 
Ohio;  John,  a  farmer,  died  in  West  Virginia;  Robert,  died  on  the  home- 
stead; Deborah,  married  William  Ramsey,  and  died  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania ;  Joseph  McCready,  see  forward ;  David,  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Hatcher's  Run  during  the  Civil  War ;  William  Ewing,  see  forward. 
(H)  Joseph  McCready  Whitehill,  son  of  James  and  Martha  (Ewing) 
Whitehill,  was  born  on  the  homestead  below  Kendall,  Hanover  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  he  was  educated.  He  engaged  in 
farming  independently  when  he  attained  man's  estate,  becoming  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  seventeen  acres.  This  he  improved  in  many  directions, 
and  in  addition  to  general  farming  was  extensively  engaged  in  sheep  rais- 
ing.   All  his  life  he  was  a  member  of  the  Tomlinson's  Run  United  Pres- 


578  PENNSYLVANIA 

byterian  Church.  He  married  Mary  Kerr,  born  near  Comettsburg,  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Andrew  T.  Kerr.  They  had 
children:    Minnie  Luella;  John  Telford,  see  forward;  Thomas  Ewing. 

(Ill)  John  Telford  Whitehill,  son  of  Joseph  McCready  and  Mary 
(Kerr)  Whitehill,  was  born  in  Hanover  township.  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  30,  1879.  He  was  educated  in  his  native  township,  and 
was  a  student  at  the  Frankfort  Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
with  honor.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  railroad  company,  with 
which  he  remained  six  years,  then  farmed  for  a  time.  At  the  present  time 
he  is  on  the  Hookstown  to  Industry  Star  Route.  He  also  cultivates  ninety- 
six  acres  of  land  for  general  farming  purposes.  His  political  affiliations 
are  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Mill  Creek 
Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Whitehill  married  (first)  April  29,  1904,  Nora 
Iradell  Ewing,  and  had  one  child:  Joseph  Ewing.  He  married  (second) 
June  21,  191 1,  Cora  Louise  Cameron,  daughter  of  John  O.  and  Minerva 
Ellen  (Tindall)  Cameron,  natives  of  Hancock  county,  West  Virginia,  and 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  respectively,  and  has  one  child,  Elizabeth  Ellen. 

(II)  William  Ewing  Whitehill,  son  of  James  and  Martha  (Ewing) 
Whitehill,  was  bom  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  August  27, 
1847.  John  Ewing,  his  maternal  grandfather,  was  an  old  resident  of 
Greene  township,  where  he  was  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  which  he  farmed.  He  had  children:  John,  died 
on  the  homestead  in  Greene  township,  was  a  farmer;  James,  same  as 
preceding;  Martha,  married  James  Whitehill,  and  became  the  mother  of 
William  E.  Whitehill;  Sarah,  married  Joseph  Moore,  and  died  in  Beaver 
county ;  Mary,  married  Dr.  Coburn,  and  died  in  Ohio ;  Belle,  married  James 
Moody,  and  died  in  Greene  township.  William  Ewing  Whitehill  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  from  an  early  age  assisted  his 
father  in  the  management  and  cultivation  of  the  homestead  farm.  He, 
together  with  his  brothers,  Robert  and  Joseph  McCready,  purchased  the 
interests  of  the  other  heirs  ,and  he  now  owns  one  hundred  and  forty-three 
acres.  He  has  erected  a  fine  dwelling  house  and  a  barn,  and  made  many 
other  improvements.  He  also  devotes  considerable  time  to  stock  raising. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Mill  Creek  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  a  trustee  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  served 
as  road  commissioner  and  as  supervisor.  Mr.  Whitehill  married,  in  1870, 
Jennie  Stephenson,  born  in  Greene  township,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Belle  (Stewart)  Stephenson,  and  granddaughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Henderson)  Stewart,  of  Scotch  descent,  who  were  early  settlers  in  Han- 
cock county,  West  Virginia,  near  the  Pennsylvania  line,  where  he  was  a 
farmer,  and  erected  a  brick  house  which  is  still  standing,  and  where  both 
died.  Thomas  and  Jane  (Smith)  Stephenson,  the  paternal  grandparents 
of  Mrs.  Whitehill,  were  old  settlers  near  Hookstown,  where  he  was  an 
extensive  land  owner;  they  had  eleven  or  twelve  children.    WilHam  Ewing 


BEAVER    COUNTY  579 

and  Jennie  (Stephenson)  Whitehill  had  children:  Belle,  married  E.  H. 
Swearingen,  has  no  children,  and  lives  with  her  father  on  the  homestead; 
Mary,  was  graduated  from  Slippery  Rock  Normal  School,  and  is  a  teacher 
in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio. 


George  Hartzel  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania, 
HARTZEL  and  removed  to  Marion  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, about  1830.  He  located  on  a  farm  which  is  now 
known  as  the  Michael  Young  farm,  where  he  cleared  the  land  and  pre- 
pared it  for  farming  purposes.  He  died  at  Brush  Creek,  Cranberry  town- 
ship, Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  while  living  with  a  daughter.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine  Cron,  born  in  Germany,  and  they  had  children:  George, 
John,  see  forward;  Jacob,  Michael,  Betsey,  Catherine,  Hannah,  Sarah, 
Maria. 

(II)  John  Hartzel,  son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Cron)  Hartzel,  was 
born  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  and 
the  owner  of  about  three  hundred  and  six  acres  of  land,  all  in  Marion 
township.  He  cleared  and  improved  the  land  and  became  a  man  of  in- 
fluence in  the  community.  He  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
served  as  supervisor  and  school  director  for  a  number  of  years.  He  mar- 
ried Dolly  Knauff,  born  in  Germany,  who  came  to  this  country  at  the  age 

of  three  years  with  her  parents,  Michael  and  Knauff,  about  1820. 

They  bought  a  farm  in  Jackson  township,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  put  up  the  first  log  buildings.  They  had  ahogether  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres.  Their  children  were:  Michael,  Nicholas,  Dolly,  married  Mr. 
Hartzel;  Margaret,  Barbara,  Casper.  Children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartzel: 
George,  see  forward;  Michael,  Catherine,  now  Mrs.  Wolf;  John,  Henry, 
Margaret,  Herman,  Jacob,  Andrew. 

(III)  George  (2)  Hartzel,  son  of  John  and  Dolly  (Knauflf)  Hartzel, 
was  born  in  Marion  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  24, 
1839.  He  was  educated  in  the  old  log  schoolhouse,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  farming  all  his  life.  At  first  he  resided  on  a  fifty-acre  farm  in  Marion 
township,  then  removed,  July  2,  1889,  to  the  farm  on  which  he  is  residing 
at  the  present  time,  this  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  one  acres.  He  put 
up  excellent  buildings,  and  has  made  many  improvements  in  the  place. 
He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Democrats,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Hartzel  married  (first)  about  1858,  Mary 
Lutz,  and  had  children:  George,  John  W.,  see  forward;  Albert,  Amos 
and  Mary,  twins.  He  married  (second)  1868,  Anna  Lutz,  a  sister  of  his 
first  wife,  and  had  children:  Edward  and  Harry.  He  married  (third) 
in  January,  1884,  Elizabeth  Luntz,  and  has  one  child,  Charles  P.,  born 
December  15,  1887;  he  has  always  been  engaged  in  general  farming;  he 
married,  March  4,  1908,  Laura  R.  Blinn. 

(IV)  John  W.  Hartzel,  son  of  George  (2)  and  Mary  (Lutz)  Hartzel, 
was  born   in   Marion  township,   Beaver  county.   Pennsylvania,   March    13, 


58o  PENNSYLVANIA 

1863.  He  was  reared  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  attending  the  com- 
mon schools  there,  later  becoming  an  attendant  at  the  night  schools  and  at 
Peirsol's  Academy  in  Rochester.  He  served  his  apprenticeship  to  the  tin- 
ning and  plumbing  trade,  then  established  himself  in  that  business  in  Roch- 
ester, in  1886,  and  is  still  identified  with  it  very  successfully.  He  has  been 
prominent  in  local  political  circles  as  a  Republican,  and  served  as  sheriff 
of  the  county  from  1908  to  191 1.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  of  Rochester.  As  a  business  man  he  is  held  in  high  esteem, 
and  he  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Beaver  County  Telephone  Company  and  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Rochester. 

Mr.  Hartzel  married,  in  1888,  Kate  A.  Blaine,  a  relative  of  the  noted 
statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  They  have  had  children:  Ethelinda,  Paul, 
deceased;  Gale,  Mary,  Merle.  The  family  attends  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  Rochester,  and  Mr.  Hartzel  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Junior 
Order  of  United  American  Mechanics. 


Scotland  and  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  are  the  two 
NICKLE    essentials   with   which   this   story   of   the   Nickle    family   of 

Beaver  county  begins,  for  it  was  from  that  land  that  David 
Nickle  and  his  wife  came  to  the  United  States. 

(I)  David  Nickle,  the  head  of  the  line  herein  traced,  was  born  in  Scot- 
land in  1 78 1,  died  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  6,  1847.  After  his  marriage  in  Scotland  in  1807,  he  came  to 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  the  remainder  of  his  days  were  spent. 
He  married  Mary  Murray,  born  in  Scotland  in  1790,  died  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  May  18,  1861,  and  was  the  father  of:  James,  born  in  Scot- 
land, January  7,  1808;  George,  William,  David,  Matthew,  of  whom  further; 
Alexander,  Eliza,  Margaret,  all  born  in  Pennsylvania. 

(ID  Matthew  Nickle,  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Murray)  JMickle,  was 
born  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  7,  1822,  died 
in  that  county,  September  3,  1904.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  early  in  life  began  farming,  becoming  the  owner  of  a  tract  of  four 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  much  of  which  he  and  his  sons  cleared.  On  this 
large  farm  he  at  some  times  grazed  several  hundred  sheep,  being  one  of 
the  most  extensive  dealers  in  the  vicinity,  also  conducting  general  farming. 
His  church  was  the  United  Presbyterian,  and  there  were  few  more  earnest 
workers  among  the  members  of  that  organization  than  he,  the  amount  of 
his  beneficences  reaching  far  beyond  the  contribution  of  even  a  generous 
man  of  his  means.  Nor  were  his  church  works  entirely  material,  for  he 
held  the  position  of  elder  in  that  church,  taking  active  part  in  its  varied 
activities  and  by  the  splendid  example  of  his  Christian  life  daily  preaching 
the  gospel  of  right  living  and  love  for  God  and  man.  In  public  life  he 
was  also  active,  taking  a  keen  interest  in  politics,  his  sympathies  being  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  holding  the  offices  of  road  supervisor  and  school 


BEAVER   COUNTY  581 

director.  The  devotion  of  his  life  to  reHgious  works  is  at  once  plain  when 
it  is  learned  that  for  forty-seven  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  session  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  for  many  years  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  sciiool. 

He  married  (first)  August  26,  1847,  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Pat- 
terson, of  Carroll  county,  Ohio,  born  January  8,  1828,  died  May  6,  1868. 
After  her  death  he  married  (second)  October  8,  1868,  a  widow,  Jane  (Big- 
ger) Hall,  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  died  December  5,  1895.  Chil- 
dren of  Mlatthew  and  Margaret  (Patterson)  Nickle:  John  Bryan,  born 
July  28,  1848;  Thomas  M.,  of  whom  further;  David  Franklin,  born  Sep- 
tember 3,  1852;  Alexander  Murray,  of  whom  further;  James,  born  May 
20,  1856;  Mary,  born  July  3,  1857;  Jeanette,  born  July  i,  1861 ;  Margaret 
Robena,  born  March  18,  1865;  William  P.  Scott,  born  July  13,  1867. 

(HI)  Thomas  M.  Nickle,  son  of  Matthew  and  Margaret  (Patterson) 
Nickle,  was  bom  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Octo- 
ber 30,  1849.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born,  and 
he  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  vicinity,  living  on  the  homestead  until 
his  marriage,  when  he  moved  to  his  present  farm,  about  one  mile  from  the 
place  of  his  birth.  His  land  is  two  hundred  acres  in  extent,  and  at  the 
present  time,  in  addition  to  conducting  operations  general  in  character, 
maintains  a  large  flock  of  sheep  and  considerable  cattle.  His  church  is 
that  of  his  father,  and  he  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  steadfastly  refusing 
political  preference  of  any  kind.  In  his  business  life,  agriculture  and  stock 
raising,  he  has  been  successful  with  unusual  consistency,  escaping  the  hard- 
est blows  that  occasionally  fall  upon  an  agricultural  community,  and  has 
realized  a  moderate  competence.  Mr.  Nickle  married,  in  1891,  Jennie  M. 
Stewart,  of  Allegheny  county,  Peimsylvania.  Children:  Maggie  Berdella, 
Lolo  Ethel,  Alena  Gertrude,  Mabel  Patterson,  Maude  Stewart. 

(HI)  Alexander  Murray  Nickle,  son  of  Matthew  and  Margaret  (Pat- 
terson) Nickle,  was  born  near  Hookstown,  Greene  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  November  24,  1854.  His  excellent  education  was  obtained 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  locality,  Frankfort  Academy,  Edinboro,  Penn- 
sylvania, State  Normal  School,  and  Grove  City  College.  After  leaving  the 
latter  institution  he  was  for  a  time  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Beaver  county,  then  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  finally  in 
Hancock  county,  West  Virginia,  his  entire  pedagogical  career  covering  a 
period  of  twelve  years.  In  April,  1887,  he  went  to  East  Liverpool,  Ohio, 
and  entered  the  office  of  Robert  Hall,  a  lumber  dealer,  and  served  for 
fifteen  years,  the  business  being  incorporated  at  the  end  of  that  time  as  the 
Robert  Hall  Lumber  Company,  when  he  was  made  general  manager.  This 
position  he  held  for  three  years,  being  compelled  to  resign  at  that  time  be- 
cause of  an  increasing  nervousness  which  threatened  a  nervous  break- 
down, and  for  two  years  he  took  almost  complete  rest.  In  1906  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  in  the  service  of  the  Limoges  China  Company  as  corres- 
pondence agent,  in  April,  1908,  moving  to  Grove  City,  Pennsylvania,  where 


582  PENNSYLVANIA 

he  has  since  followed  the  trade  that  he  learned  earlier  in  life,  that  of  car- 
penter. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  his  political  convictions  are  strongly  in  favor  of  the  Prohibition  party. 
While  a  resident  of  East  Liverpool,  Ohio,  he  served  for  one  year  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  of  that  place,  and  for  eight  years  on  the 
board  of  examiners  for  teachers'  certificates. 

Mr.  Nickle  married,  February  15,  1888,  Jennie  Wills  Bigger,  born 
near  Bavington,  Robinson  township,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Donaldson)  Bigger.  James  Bigger  was  a 
life-long  farmer;  his  children:  Jennie  Wills,  of  previous  mention,  mar- 
ried Alexander  Murray  Nickle ;  Isaac  Donaldson ;  James  Walker ;  Ida  Mar- 
garet, twin  of  James  Walker;  Esther,  married  a  Mr.  McBride;  Richard; 
William;  John  McBride. 


William  Chapman,   a  prominent   citizen   and   prosperous 
CHAPMAN     farmer  and  dairyman  of  Hookstown,  Pennsylvania,  is  a 

member  of  a  Pennsylvania  family,  and  was  born  at  Ken- 
dall, Beaver  county,  in  that  state,  August  16,  1867.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, one  of  three  brothers,  was  Samuel  Chapman,  who  in  early  years 
settled  near  Raccoon  Station,  Beaver  county.  William  Chapman,  son  of 
Samuel  Chapman,  was  born  near  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to 
Beaver  county  about  1840,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Hanover  town- 
ship. He  married  (first)  Joanna  Hoag,  and  by  her  had  four  children. 
He  married  (second)  Margaret  Nickle,  daughter  of  David  Nickle,  and  a 
sister  of  Matthew  Nickle.  Of  this  union  there  was  but  one  child,  William, 
of  whom  further.  Mr.  Chapman  Sr.  was  an  active  man  in  the  community 
during  his  life,  and  held  the  position  of  road  commissioner.  He  had  a 
farm  of  about  forty  acres  near  Kendall,  Beaver  county,  and  there  lived 
and  died. 

William  Chapman  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  of  Kendall,  and 
took  up  farming  upon  completing  his  studies  in  the  same.  In  the  year 
1905  he  bought  the  old  Nickle  farm,  which  had  been  in  his  mother's  family, 
and  which  contained  two  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres,  and  upon  this  he 
now  lives  and  conducts  a  large  dairy.  The  farm  lies  in  Greene  township 
and  might  serve  as  a  model  for  dairymen.  Mr.  Chapman  has  made  exten- 
sive improvements  upon,  and  highly  developed  his  property.  His  herd  consists 
entirely  of  fine  specimens  of  the  Short  Horn  and  Red  Poll  cattle.  Mr.  Chap- 
man married,  in  1892,  Ella  Andrews,  a  resident  of  the  environs  of  Ken- 
dall, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Andrews.  To 
them  have  been  born  two  children,  George  and  Harry  Chapman,  both  re- 
siding at  home.  Mr.  Chapman  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Mill  Creek  Church. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  583 

The  date  of  the  arrival  of  the  Cooley  family  in  this  country 
COOLEY     cannot  be  established  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  owing  to 
the  destruction  in  various  manners  of  early  records.     They 
have,  however,  been  resident  in  America  for  a  number  of  generations. 

(I)  Frank  Cooley,  who  was  a  farmer  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, died  in  that  county,  and  had  been  a  highly  respected  member  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lived. 

(II)  Robert  S.  Cooley,  son  of  Frank  Cooley,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  removed  to  Beaver  county,  in  the  same  state,  at 
a  very  early  day.  He  located  on  a  farm  a  little  below  the  one  on  which 
Joseph  Cooley  Jr.  now  resides,  and  all  the  active  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
in  farming.  He  owned  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  which  he 
cleared  and  provided  with  log  buildings  for  all  necessary  purposes.  He 
was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Cooley  married  Jennie 
Smith,  also  a  native  of  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  Among  their  chil- 
dren were :  Joseph,  see  forward ;  Frank,  who  served  in  a  cavalry  regi- 
ment during  the  Civil  War,  and  who  died  in  the  state  of  Kansas. 

(III)  Joseph  Cooley,  son  of  Robert  S.  and  Jennie  (Smith)  Cooley, 
was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  all 
his  life,  and  was  also  engaged  extensively  in  farming.  He  owned  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  of  land,  a  large  portion  of  which  was  devoted  to  the 
raising  of  sheep,  in  which  he  was  very  successful.  Like  his  father,  he  was 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Cooley  married  Matilda  Ander- 
son, born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Matilda 
(Blackamore)  Anderson,  who  were  early  settlers  in  the  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cooley  had  children:  Joseph,  see  forward;  Mary  Ann,  Elizabeth, 
Robert  S.,  Letitia,  Matilda. 

(IV)  Joseph  (2)  Cooley,  son  of  Joseph  (i)  and  Matilda  (Anderson) 
Cooley,  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
May,  1849.  Mr.  Cooley  received  the  usual  education  of  a  farmer's  lad, 
in  the  public  schools,  a  goodly  portion  of  his  time,  even  as  a  young  lad, 
being  spent  in  assisting  in  the  farm  labors.  When  he  was  but  three  weeks 
of  age  he  had  been  taken  by  his  grandparents  to  the  farm  on  which  he  is 
living  at  the  present  time.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  forty- 
five  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  under  general  cultivation,  and  he  utilizes  a 
large  portion  of  it  for  the  purpose  of  raising  sheep,  in  which  he  has  been 
successful.  He  has  made  many  improvements  on  this  farm  since  it  has 
come  into  his  possession,  installing  the  most  modern  farm  implements,  and 
made  many  innovations  which  simplify  the  ordinary  work.  As  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  he  has  been  honored  by  election  to  member- 
ship in  the  election  board.  Like  his  forefathers,  he  is  a  staunch  supporter 
of  the  church,  his  membership  being  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Cooley  married,  in  1873,  Elizabeth  Chambers,  and  has  had  chil- 
dren:   I.  Laura,  married  Charles  B.  McMillan,  of  Frankfort  Springs;  have 


584  PENNSYLVANIA 

five  children :  Helen  M.,  Elizabeth  J.,  Margaret  A.  L.,  Viola  J.,  Charles  C. 
2.  Chambers,  killed  by  horse  running  away  and  throwing  him  from  the 
cart;  was  in  his  twentieth  year.  3.  Edna.  4.  Dwyte,  married  Laura  B. 
Stevenson,  and  they  reside  on  the  farm.  5.  Leola,  died  while  at  play  about 
an  oil  derrick;  was  six  years  of  age. 


The  present  generation  of  the  Jackson  family,  of  Rochester, 
JACKSON     Beaver   county,    Pennsylvania,    has   been   distinguished   in 
public  life  as  well  as  in  religious  and  social  circles. 

(I)  James  Jackson,  a  native  of  Ireland,  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  at  North  Sewickley,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He  followed  his  calling  as  a  farmer,  and 
died  there,  after  having  married. 

(II)  Hugh  Jackson,  son  of  James  Jackson,  was  bom  in  North  Sewick- 
ley, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  education  was  as  good  a  one  as  the 
public  schools  of  that  early  day  afforded.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  followed  that  calling  for  some  time,  later  became  identified  with  the 
building  of  boats  in  Bollesville,  where  he  died  in  May,  1862.  He  was  a 
devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  Democrat  in  political 
matters.  Mr.  Jackson  married  Ann  Ferguson,  born  in  North  Sewickley 
township,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Ferguson,  the  former  a  native 
of  Ireland ;  he  emigrated  to  America  and  was  a  farmer  in  North  Sewickley 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  had  children:  Albert;  George,  deceased; 
Even,  deceased ;  Andrew,  deceased ;  Samuel  F.,  deceased ;  Leander  Whistler, 
of  further  mention ;  William,  deceased ;  Sarah  E. 

(III)  Leander  Whistler  Jackson,  son  of  Hugh  and  Ann  (Ferguson) 
Jackson,  was  born  in  Bollesville,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
I,  1853.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Rochester 
township,  and  from  an  early  age  commenced  a  self-supporting  career.  Ambi- 
tious and  energetic  he  made  every  effort  to  acquire  the  necessary  knowledge 
for  the  responsible  work  of  a  stationary  engineer,  and  followed  this  calling 
for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years.  He  then  became  superintendent  for  the 
S.  Barnes  Company  Brick  Works,  at  Bollesville,  retaining  this  position  ten 
years.  In  1910  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  firm  of  Jackson  & 
Gibson,  wholesale  dealers  in  paper  and  paper  products,  in  Rochester,  and 
this  has  proved  a  very  profitable  enterprise,  and  is  successfully  conducted 
up  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Jackson  is  connected  with  a  number  of  other 
important  business  enterprises,  among  them  being  the  Central  Building  & 
Loan  Association,  of  which  he  is  president.  He  has  always  given  his  con- 
sistent support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  has  served  as  a  member  cf  the 
common  council  of  Rochester.  His  religious  affiliation  is  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  a  trustee  since  1888,  and  secretary 
of  the  Sunday  school  for  the  past  twenty-one  years.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  Mr.  Jackson  married,  in  1881, 
Lauraucha  Roberts,  bom  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  who  came  to  Roch- 
ester with  her  parents.    Children :    George  R.,  William  M.,  Mildred. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  585 

The  Shane  family  in  this  country  probably  originally  came 
SHANE    here  from  Ireland,  but  early  records  having  been  lost,  it  is  a 
matter  of  some  difficulty  to  establish  the  connection.     It  is 
certain  that  they  have  now  been  here  for  a  number  of  generations. 

(I)  Neil  Shane  and  tw^o  brothers  w^ere  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  They  had  lost  their  way,  and  located  in 
Raccoon  township,  a  portion  of  the  land  on  which  they  settled  still  being  in 
the  possession  of  their  descendants.  Like  all  the  settlers  of  that  time  their 
principal  occupation  was  farming,  and  they  bravely  endured  the  hardships 
of  the  early  settlement  days.     Neil  Shane,  personally,  was  the  owner  of 

between  five  and  six  hundred  acres  of  land.    He  married Bryan,  and 

had  children. 

(II)  Richard  Shane,  son  of  Neil  and  (Bryan)  Shane,  was  born 

in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  homestead  farm,  on  a  part  of 
which  he  is  now  residing,  and  has  been  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life.  His 
farm  consists  of  one  hundred  acres.  During  the  Civil  War  he  served  in 
the  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  married  Belle  Craig,  born  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  John  Craig,  who  was  the  owner 
of  an  adjoining  farm.  They  have  had  children:  James  C,  of  Beaver; 
Thomas  C,  of  Rochester;  Gertrude;  Leon  Bradford,  of  further  mention; 
Charlotte;  Harry  Dallas,  of  further  mention;  Maggie  Pearl;  Olive,  de- 
ceased ;  Jennie,  deceased ;  Grace. 

(III)  Leon  Bradford  Shane,  son  of  Richard  and  Belle  (Craig)  Shane, 
was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  12,  1874.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Raccoon  township,  and  was  employed  on 
the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  He  then  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Bell  Telephone  Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for  six 
years,  after  which  he  went  to  Rochester,  and  there  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  with  which  he  has  been  identified,  directly  and  indirectly,  since  that 
time.  In  March,  1912,  he  and  his  brother,  Harry  Dallas  Shane,  established 
themselves  in  the  lumber  business  on  New  York  Avenue  Extension,  Roch- 
ester, and  also  as  building  contractors,  the  name  of  the  firm  being  Shane 
Brothers.  They  have  been  very  successful  up  to  the  present  time,  and  are 
rapidly  building  up  a  business  of  large  proportions.  He  gives  his  political 
support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Shane  married,  September  5,  1901, 
Lida  M.  Hood,  born  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  Alvin  and  Elizabeth  (Brunton)  Hood,  early  settlers  of  Greene 
township. 

(Ill)  Harry  Dallas  Shane,  son  of  Richard  and  Belle  (Craig)  Shane, 
was  born  on  the  homestead  farm,  August  17,  1877.  He  also  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  1899,  when  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  has  followed  it.  He  is  now  associated 
in  business  with  his  brother  as  above  mentioned.  He  married  (first)  Sarah 
Gallagher,  deceased,  of  Greene  township,  and  has  one  son  by  this  marriage, 


5'%  PENNSYLVANIA 

John  Franklin.  He  married  (second)  Nora  Hood,  a  sister  of  his  brother's 
wife,  and  they  have  had  children:  Frederick  Herman  and  Harold  Richard. 
He  is  a  Republican  politically,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 


Colonel  James  Carothers  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Cumber- 
CAROTHERS  land  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1765,  and  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  In  1787  he  came  to  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  twelve  acres  of  government 
land  in  Hanover  township.  This  lay  close  to  the  Washington  county  line, 
and  the  borough  of  Frankfort  Springs  now  stands  in  part  of  it.  He  was  a 
surveyor,  and  served  in  this  capacity  for  the  county.  His  death  occurred 
in  1817.  In  1789  he  returned  to  Carlisle  for  the  purpose  of  marrying 
Alice  Carothers,  of  another  family  of  the  same  name,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years.  Both  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
They  had  children :  Mary,  married  John  Glasgow,  and  died  in  Canton, 
Ohio;  John,  see  forward;  William,  died  at  Frankfort  Springs,  Pennsyl- 
vania; James,  also  died  at  Frankfort  Springs,  and  both  were  farmers; 
Jesse,  also  deceased,  was  cashier  of  the  Merchants'  and  Manufacturers' 
Bank  at  Pittsburgh ;  Matilda,  married  Alexander  Duncan,  died  at  Florence, 
Pennsylvania;  Thomas,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  died  young. 

(II)  John  Carothers,  son  of  Colonel  James  and  AHce  (Carothers) 
Carothers,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1793,  died  December  18,  i860.  His  entire  life 
was  spent  in  Beaver  county.  He  removed  to  Patterson  township,  where 
he  conducted  a  hotel  on  the  old  Darlington  Road  near  Alum  Rocks.  He 
was  prominently  identified  with  public  affairs,  and  was  a  staunch  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party.  For  a  period  of  eighteen  years  he  served  as  as- 
sociate judge  of  Beaver  county,  and  at  various  times  filled  all  the  offices 
in  the  gift  of  the  township.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  at  Bridgewater,  in  which  he  served  as  elder  many  years. 
He  married  Nancy  McGlester  White,  who  died  June  23,  1881.  They  had 
children:  James,  a  merchant,  was  married  and  died  young;  John  J.,  see 
forward;  Andrew,  a  farmer,  and  once  county  commissioner  of  Beaver 
county,  died  in  Pittsburgh;  Mary,  widow  of  William  Anderson;  Jesse,  a 
farmer,  died  in  Brighton  township;  Jane,  widow  of  Wilson  Cunningham,  a 
prominent  farmer  and  politician;  William  Allen,  see  forward;  Nettie, 
widow  of  Robert  Ferguson.  The  three  widows,  Mary,  Jane  and  Nettie, 
live  in  one  house  in  Beaver. 

(III)  John  J.  Carothers,  son  of  John  and  Nancy  McGlester  (White) 
Carothers,  was  bom  in  Patterson  township,  Pennsylvania,  June  10,  1822, 
died  March  17,  1896.  He  was  the  recipient  of  a  good  education  for  those 
days  and  was  a  student  at  the  Frankfort  Academy,  at  which  time  he  took 
a  great  liking  to  that  section  of  the  country,  and  in  later  life  removed  to 
Hanover  township,  where  he  purchased  a  portion  of  the  old  homestead  and 


BEAVER   COUNTY  587 

made  that  his  permanent  home.  His  farm  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  of  land.  In  political  matters  he  was  a  Democrat,  was  once  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  associate  judge,  and  once  for  that  of  member 
of  the  state  assembly.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  in  office  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  having  held  that  position  for  forty  years,  and  being 
the  oldest  in  the  county.  He  acted  many  times  as  administrator  of  estates ; 
was  vice-president  and  director  of  the  Burgettstown  National  Bank;  and 
was  a  trustee  of  the  Frankfort  Academy.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Carothers  married  Ellen  Ewing,  born 
August  30,  1823,  died  November  27,  1898.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Ferguson)  Ewing,  and  a  granddaughter  of  John  Ferguson. 
John  Ewing  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  his  ancestors  had  been  living  in 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  for  some  generations.  He  was  a  tanner  at 
Frankfort,  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  and  died  in  1863.  He 
had  children :  A  daughter,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Jane,  now  deceased,  mar- 
ried John  Stevenson ;  Ellen,  mentioned  above ;  Sarah  A.,  now  deceased, 
married  John  McCullough ;  Eliza,  deceased,  married  Robert  Withrow; 
James,  deceased,  married  Clara  McGinnis ;  William,  a  farmer,  married  Mar- 
garet Kiefer,  and  died  in  Pittsburgh;  John,  who  married  Martha  Finnegan, 
died  at  Uhrichsville,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carothers  had  children;  Emeline, 
born  July  8,  1848,  died  December  31,  1866;  Sarah  Agnes,  born  February 
16,  1852,  died  January  5,  1867;  James  White,  see  forward;  Jeannette,  bom 
March  8,  1857,  died  January  12,  1867;  Ella,  born  June  3,  1864,  married  A. 
D.  Matchett,  a  carpenter,  and  lives  in  Hollidays  Cove,  West  Virginia. 

(IV)  James  White  Carothers,  son  of  John  J.  and  Ellen  (Ewing)  Car- 
others,  was  born  in  the  borough  of  Frankfort  Springs,  Hanover  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  15,  1855,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  the  Frankfort  Academy.  With  the  exception  of  five 
years  spent  in  the  employ  of  the  Pittsburgh  &  Lake  Erie  Railroad,  when  he 
lived  at  Pittsburgh,  his  entire  life  has  been  spent  on  the  homestead  farm. 
He  obtained  this  by  inheritance,  and  sold  twelve  acres.  Until  1912  he  was 
a  breeder  of  registered  short  horn  cattle,  and  is  still  engaged  in  breeding 
Delaine  sheep,  and  always  has  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  his  flock. 
He  also  has  a  coal  bank  and  has  supplied  the  town  for  about  thirty  years. 
He  and  his  father  erected  a  number  of  new  and  improved  buildings  on  the 
place,  which  are  kept  in  the  best  condition.  He  is  a  staunch  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  consistently  and  persistently  refused  to 
hold  public  office.  His  fraternal  membership  is  with  Glasgow  Lodge,  No. 
485,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

Mr.  Carothers  married,  December  30,  1880,  Margaret  Forner,  born  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  18,  i860,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Mary  Janet,  born  January  29,  1882;  she  married  Charles  B.  Scott,  and  lives 
in  Florence,  Pennsylvania.  They  have  two  daughters :  Margaret  Kathryn, 
born  in  October,  1903,  and  Mary  Janet,  born  May  13,  1914.  Mrs.  Car- 
others  is  the  daughter  of  Barnett  and  Mary  (Figley)   Forner,  the  latter 


588  PENNSYLVANIA 

born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  21,  1830,  died  December  5, 
1898.  Barnett  Forner  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  in  February, 
1818,  died  February  8,  1880.  He  came  here  in  young  manhood,  and  was 
at  first  a  miller  at  Florence,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  then  re- 
moved to  Independence  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  There  he 
bought  a  mill  on  Raccoon  creek,  which  he  operated  until  his  death. 

(Ill)  William  Allen  Carothers,  son  of  John  and  Nancy  McGlester 
(White)  Carothers,  was  born  in  Patterson  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  30,  1833,  died  in  Chippewa  township,  same  county,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1894.  The  school  at  Patterson  Heights  was  the  scene  of  his  youth- 
ful hours  of  study,  and  when  a  young  man  he  began  cultivating  the  home- 
stead farm,  now  owned  by  the  McHattie  Brothers.  After  his  father's  death 
he  left  the  homestead,  purchasing  his  father-in-law's  farm  in  Chippewa 
township,  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  acres.  Before  endeavor- 
ing to  make  his  newly  acquired  property  a  paying  proposition  he  made 
numerous  improvements,  such  as  the  erection  of  new  buildings  for  both 
man  and  beast  and  the  general  renovation  of  the  entire  place.  Farming 
was  the  only  business  to  which  he  devoted  his  attention,  and  to  this  occu- 
pation he  gave  the  methodical,  thorough  care  that  a  business  man  uses  in 
scrutinizing  his  books,  quick  to  adopt  innovations  of  value  and  never  the 
last  to  abandon  habits  and  practices  that  had  outlived  their  day  and  use- 
fulness or  had  been  proven  fallacies.  The  practicality  of  his  method  was  best 
shown  by  his  uniformly  good  crops,  in  which  he  ranked  second  to  none 
of  his  neighbors,  among  whom  were  some  of  the  best  farmers  of  that 
locality.  On  his  farm  he  kept  stock  of  good  blood,  doing  no  dealing  therein 
but  merely  maintaining  sufficient  for  his  farm  and  household  needs,  raising 
a  large  part  of  their  feed  on  his  land.  As  a  Democrat  he  was  elected  to 
numerous  township  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he  faithfully  discharged,  and 
was  with  his  wife  an  adherent  of  the  Presbyterian  faith.  His  only  fraternal 
relation  was  with  the  Masonic  order. 

Mr.  Carothers  married  Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  James  and  Rachel 
(Murphy)  Scott,  born  in  Chippewa  township,  Beaver  county,  July  17, 
1833.  Children  of  William  Allen  and  Mary  Jane  (Scott)  Carothers:  i. 
Jessie,  born  1864,  died  1881,  diphtheria  causing  her  death.  2.  Cora  B.,  born 
February  4,  1866;  married  Gustavus  Brittain;  lives  at  No.  2027  Seventh 
avenue,  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Edna,  born  in  March,  1868,  died 
at  the  same  time  and  of  the  same  cause  as  her  sister,  Jessie.  4.  Mary,  born 
June  3,  1870,  died  unmarried  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania,  1910.  5.  Wil- 
liam Allen  Scott,  born  April  28,  1872,  the  third  victim  of  the  disease  that 
claimed  his  two  sisters  in  1881.  Since  June,  1907,  Mrs.  Carothers  has 
lived  in  Beaver  Falls,  having  Hved  on  the  farm  from  the  time  of  her  hus- 
band's death  until  that  year. 

James  Scott  was  a  son  of  Hugh  Scott,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
who  came  to  America  while  the  war  for  independence  was  being  waged, 
sending  for  his  wife  and  two  children  when  peace  had  been  restored.    Their 


BEAVER   COUNTY  589 

home  was  for  a  time  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  after  which  they 
journeyed  westward  and  located  in  Chippewa  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  Hugh  Scott  became  owner  of  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-three  acres.  He  prepared  a  place  for  a  house,  built  the  same, 
and  then  began  to  remove  the  dense  woods,  gradually  increasing  his  arable 
area  until  he  had  a  farm  of  generous  dimensions,  capable  of  supplying  the 
needs  of  his  little  family.  He  here  died  while  still  in  the  prime  of  life  and 
with  apparently  many  years  of  active  usefulness  before  him,  his  widow, 
Jane,  living  on  the  home  farm  until  she  attained  a  great  age,  her  death  oc- 
curring in  South  Beaver  township.  Children  of  Hugh  and  Jane  Scott, 
the  first  two  born  in  Ireland,  the  two  others  in  Pennsylvania:  i.  Jane, 
married  Samuel  Cunningham;  died  in  Chippewa  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania.  2.  Maria,  married  John  Porter;  died  in  Ohio.  3.  Isabella, 
married  William  Barclay;  died  in  Beaver,  Pennsylvania.  4.  James,  of 
whom  further. 

James  Scott,  son  of  Hugh  and  Jane  Scott,  was  born  in  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  i,  1806,  died  in  Patterson  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  22,  1856.  When  but  a  child  he  was  brought  to 
Beaver  county  with  his  parents,  and  he  here  grew  to  maturity,  attending  the 
public  schools  and  marrying.  He  acquired  the  shares  of  his  sisters  in  the 
homestead  and  lived  thereon  until  1846,  when  he  bought  the  Murphy  farm, 
there  living  until  his  death.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  as  a  Democratic  candidate  was  elected  to  numerous  township  offices, 
being  at  one  time  justice  of  the  peace.  In  military  affairs  he  was  also 
actively  interested,  for  many  years  being  a  captain  of  militia  in  the  local 
organization  of  the  state  troops.  He  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  (Stratton)  Murphy,  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April 
I,  1813,  died  March  8,  1885.  After  his  death  she  married  a  second  time, 
her  husband  being  James  Wrigley.  John  Murphy,  father  of  Rachel  Murphy, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  leaving  his  native  land  for  the  United  States  prior  to 
1812,  settling  in  Patterson  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  from 
which  locality  he  enlisted  in  the  company  being  there  raised  to  go  to  the 
front  in  the  war  of  1812-14.  While  he  was  in  the  army,  his  wife  made  her 
home  with  a  family  by  the  name  of  Brooks,  close  friends  and  neighbors. 
Children  of  John  and  Mary  (Stratton)  Murphy:  i.  Sarah,  died  in  Beaver 
Falls,  Pennsylvania,  aged  ninety-six  years;  married  (first)  Isaiah  Thomas, 
(second)  Hugh  Woods.  2.  Valariah,  married  Frank  Vesey;  died  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania.  3.  Rachel,  of  previous  mention,  married  James 
Scott.  4.  Nancy,  married  George  Dunning;  moved  to  Iowa,  where  she 
died.  5.  Sophronia,  married  Alexander  Brown ;  died  in  Illinois.  6.  Grace, 
died  unmarried  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania  7.  Cynthia,  married  John 
Reeves;  died  in  Patterson  Heights,  Pennsylvania.  8.  Mary  Ann,  married 
William  Grant;  died  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania.  9.  Caroline,  married 
John  Knight;  died  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania.  10.  Samuel,  died  in 
Beaver  Falls.     11.  William,  a  cooper;  died  in  Beaver  Falls.     12.  John,  a 


590  PENNSYLVANIA 

soldier  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War,  died  in  the  service.  Chil- 
dren of  James  and  Rachel  (Murphy)  Scott:  i.  Mary  Jane,  of  previous 
mention,  married  William  Allen  Carothers.  2.  Valariah,  born  December 
21,  1835,  died  in  infancy.  3.  Hugh  Franklin,  bom  December  31,  1836;  a 
carpenter;  enlisted  in  the  Civil  War,  and  after  its  close  died,  the  cause  of 
his  death  being  general  physical  weakness,  the  rigors  of  his  many  campaigns 
having  proved  too  great  a  strain  upon  his  physique.  4.  Sarah  Ann,  born 
February  26,  1839;  married  John  Wells;  died  in  Crestline,  Ohio,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1913.  5.  Maria  Isabel,  bom  April  8,  1841 ;  married  Ethan  Brittain; 
lives  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  6.  John  Jackson,  born  June  8, 
1845,  died  aged  about  eight  years.  7.  Joseph  Frazier,  born  December  8, 
1847,  died  in  childhood.  8.  James,  born  March  4,  1850,  died  aged  twenty 
years. 


The  Cowden  family  has  been  resident  in  the  state  of  Penn- 
COWDEN     sylvania    for   a    number   of    generations,    and    during   the 
greater  number  of  these  years  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  agricultural  interests. 

(I)  John  Cowden  was  born  near  Hickory,  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  died  about  1909.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of 
his  native  county,  and  at  an  early  age  became  active  in  farming  interests. 
He  was  very  systematic  and  painstaking  in  whatever  he  undertook,  and 
worked  his  way  up  from  small  beginnings  to  a  position  of  wealth  and  in- 
fluence. At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres  in  Washington  county,  one  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty-six  acres  in  Kansas,  and  a  third  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six 
acres  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  addition  to  farming  he  was 
largely  engaged  in  stock  raising,  in  which  he  was  equally  successful.  While 
he  was  never  desirous  of  holding  public  office,  he  gave  his  political  support 
many  years  to  the  Republican  party,  and  later  joined  the  ranks  of  the 
Prohibitionists.  Until  about  ten  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  a  member 
of  the  church  at  Venice,  Washington  county,  and  then  joined  the  church  at 
Houston.  Mr.  Cowden  married  Louisa  Scott,  born  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  children :  Isaac  Paterson ;  Joseph  Scott ;  Mary 
Bell ;  Esther  Ann ;  Lily,  deceased ;  James  Nelson ;  William  Anderson ;  John 
Alexander,  of  further  mention. 

(II)  John  Alexander  Cowden,  son  of  John  and  Louisa  (Scott) 
Cowden,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
3,  1872.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Washington  county,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  attendance  at 
the  Hickory  Academy.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  education  he  became  an 
active  assistant  of  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  his  various  farms,  and 
became  thoroughly  familiar  with  every  detail  of  farm  management.  About  the 
year  1903  he  removed  to  the  farm  owned  by  his  father  in  Hanover  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  residing  on  this  at  the  present  time.    He 


(y *- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  591 

has  brought  it  to  a  fine  and  profitable  state  of  cultivation,  and  is  progres- 
sive in  his  methods.  He  raises  general  farm  products,  and  is  also  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  a  stock  raiser.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party.  Mr.  Cowden  married,  September  28,  1904,  Mary,  daughter  of  Mrs. 
I.  L.  Campbell.  They  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but  have  given  a  home 
to  David  A.  Kennedy,  whom  they  are  giving  all  the  advantages  in  their 
power.  Mr.  Cowden  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare 
of  the  community,  and  is  a  man  of  unusually  broad-minded  views  on  every 
subject. 


The  ancestry  of  the  Gormley  family  of  Beaver  county  is 
GORMLEY     Irish  and  it  was  from  that  country  that  the  emigrant  an- 
cestry of  the  line  herein  recorded  came  to  Lawrence  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  purchased  a  farm,  married,  and  spent  all  the  years 
of  his  life.    Among  his  children,  of  whom  three  were  sons,  was  Robert,  of 
whom  further. 

(II)  Robert  Gormley  was  born  near  Newcastle,  Lawrence  county, 
Pennsylvania,  1828.  He  there  spent  his  boyhood  days,  and  when  a  young 
man  purchased  a  farm  in  that  county,  where  he  still  resides.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  married  Margaret  Moak,  whom  he  survives. 

(III)  Dr.  James  Renwick  Gormley,  son  of  Robert  and  Margaret 
(Moak)  Gormley,  was  born  near  Newcastle,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  14,  1867.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  old  homestead, 
still  the  home  of  his  father,  and  he  attended  the  public  schools,  later  study- 
ing at  Grove  City  College.  After  his  graduation  from  the  latter  institution 
he  was  for  four  years  a  school  teacher,  later  beginning  the  study  of  medi- 
cine at  Western  Reserve  University,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  completing  his 
medical  education  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  whence  he  was  graduated  in  1893.  For  one  year  after  his 
graduation  he  was  house  physician  in  Christ's  Hospital,  and  in  1894  moved 
to  Monaca,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, his  able  knowledge  of  his  art  speedily  winning  him  a  large  number 
of  patients.  In  1897  he  became  a  member  of  the  Beaver  County  Medical 
Society,  to  which  he  still  belongs,  also  holding  membership  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania State  and  American  Medical  societies.  A  Republican  in  politics  he 
has  held  both  county  and  local  offices,  having  been  coroner  of  Beaver 
county  for  two  terms,  a  member  of  the  Monaca  council  for  six  years 
and  for  five  years  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  a  member  of 
Saint  James  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Eureka  Chapter,  No. 
167,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of  Rochester,  Pennsylvania;  Commandery  No. 
84,  Knights  Templar,  of  Beaver  Falls ;  and  Saint  George's  Lodge  of 
Perfection,  of  Pittsburgh,  thirty-second  degree.  He  also  affiliates  with 
the   Knights  of   Pythias,  of   Monaca,  and   the   Benevolent   and   Protective 


592  PENNSYLVANIA 

Order  of  Elks,  of  Rochester,  Pennsylvania.     With  his  wife  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Dr.  Gormley  married  Lydia  E.  Ronshausen,  of  New  Brighton,  Penn- 
sylvania. Children:  James  Renwick  (2),  born  April  4,  1909;  Anna  Mar- 
garet, bom  March  13,  1910.  Prominent  in  all  public  works,  conspicuous 
in  fraternal  circles,  and  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  vicinity.  Dr. 
Gormley's  active  and  successful  career  has  been  both  a  credit  to  him  and 
to  the  town  of  his  adoption. 


This    family  was   originally   resident   in   England,   the 
INGLEFIELD     grandfather  of  the  present  generation  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  having  been  Charles  Inglefield,  a  shoe- 
maker in  Lancaster,  England. 

(II)  William  Inglefield,  son  of  Charles  Inglefield,  was  born  near  Lan- 
caster, England,  and  came  to  America  with  his  wife  and  two  children.  His 
wife  and  the  children  became  very  ill  at  sea  and  died  not  long  after  their 
arrival  in  this  country,  at  Philadelphia,  where  they  were  buried.  Mr. 
Inglefield  migrated  to  the  western  part  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  one  of  the  contractors  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  Panhandle 
Railway.  He  had,  however,  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking  under  the 
supervision  of  his  father,  and  in  later  life  he  took  this  up  again,  at 
Murdocksville,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  Still  later  he  bought  out 
the  general  store  of  McClarn,  and  conducted  this  very  successfully  until 
his  death.  He  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  and  was  active  in  the 
interests  of  the  Hebern  Church,  although  he  would  never  consent  to  hold 
office,  either  in  the  church  or  public  matters.  He  was  once  elected  to  serve 
as  elder  in  the  church,  but  declined  the  honor.  He  was  of  a  very  quiet, 
retiring  nature,  always  thoughtful  and  considerate  of  others.  Mr.  Ingle- 
field married  (second)  Hettie  Withrow,  born  September  14,  1833,  at 
Hood's  Mill,  south  of  Murdocksville,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  had  children:  Sophia,  now  Mrs.  Oliver;  William  W. ;  R.  B. ; 
John  S.,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Edward  S.,  see  forward;  James 
Oliver;  Charles  Oxford;  David  Patterson. 

(III)  Edward  S.  Inglefield,  son  of  William  and  Hettie  (Withrow) 
Inglefield,  was  born  at  Murdocksville,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
June  5,  1864.  He  was  educated  at  the  district  schools  of  Murdocksville, 
and  then  engaged  in  farming  with  which  he  has  been  continuously  identified. 
For  the  past  twenty-four  years  he  has  also  made  a  specialty  of  threshing 
and  baling,  and  also  operates  a  saw  mill.  He  is  the  owner  of  sixty-two 
acres  of  land  which  he  keeps  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  been 
active  in  local  politics  in  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party,  and  is  now 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  directors.  He  has  also  served 
for  some  years  on  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Hebern  Church.  Mr.  Ingle- 
field married,  December  23,  1886,  Ada  Martha  Anderson,  born  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  but  reared  in  Washington  county.     They  have  had 


BEAVER   COUNTY  593 

children:  William  Elmer,  of  Murdocksville ;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  married 
Charles  Cain,  and  now  lives  in  Ohio ;  a  son  who  died  unnamed ;  Mary  H. ; 
Ada  B.,  a  teacher;  James  Ralph;  Sophia;  Edward  Earl.  James  R.  Hender- 
son, father  of  Mrs.  Inglefield,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  his  father,  Thomas  Anderson,  had  taken  up  a  tract  of  land,  and 
farmed,  the  land  being  in  the  family  up  to  the  present  day.  James  R. 
Anderson  married  EHzabeth,  daughter  of  Joseph  Cully,  a  pioneer  farmer 
of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  They  had  children:  Edward,  who 
died  in  childhood ;  Ada  Martha,  who  became  Mrs.  Inglefield,  whose  mother 
died  when  she  was  two  years  of  age,  and  she  was  brought  up  by  an 
aunt;  Maria  Armour. 


John  Conkle  came  over  the  mountains  and  settled  in  Hickory, 
CONKLE     Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  about  1700.    He  was  one 

of  the  earliest  settlers  in  that  region.  He  acquired  a  large 
tract  of  land  which  he  cleared  and  cultivated  successfully.  He  lived  until 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-nine  years.  In  1795  his  sons  were  located  at 
the  following  places :  Henry,  at  Hookstown,  Pennsylvania ;  Adam,  at 
Washington,  Pennsylvania;  John,  at  Washington,  Pennsylvania;  Peter,  at 
Little  Beaver,  Ohio;  Jacob,  at  Calcutta,  Ohio;  George,  at  Cannon's  Mill, 
back  of  Liverpool,  Ohio.  He  married  (first)  Charlotte  Settler,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He  married  (second)  Christine  Shaffer, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  Children  by  first  marriage:  George, 
John,  Jacob,  Samuel,  Sallie,  Polly,  Betsey,  Ann.  Children  by  the  second 
marriage :    William ;  Henry,  see  forward  ;  Mattie,  twin  of  Henry. 

(II)  Henry  Conkle,  son  of  John  and  Christine  (Shaffer)  Conkle,  lived 
to  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  He  had  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  four 
acres.  On  this  he  built  the  first  log  house,  it  being  within  three  rods  of 
the  present  dwelling. 

(III)  Henry,  son  of  Henry  Conkle,  was  born  in  the  log  house  on 
the  family  homestead,  November  2^,  1821,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
one  years.  He  built  a  second  log  house  and  put  up  an  addition  to  the  first 
one,  and  still  later  erected  a  frame  house  which  was  burned.  He  married 
Catherine  Metz,  who  died  July  27,  1903.  She  was  born  on  the  Jesse 
Mercer  place  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  a  great- 
granddaughter  of  Peter  Metz,  who  was  born  east  of  the  mountains,  and 
settled  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  about  1800.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years.  He  had  a  daughter,  Mary  Camathan,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  forty-four  years,  and  his  son,  Adam  Metz,  who  was  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Conkle,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  Henry  and  Cath- 
erine (Metz)  Conkle  had  children:  Robert  Franklin,  died  in  May,  19 10; 
Anna  Mary ;  Samuel  M. ;  Elihu  R. ;  Sarah  Martha ;  John  S. ;  George  E.  W., 
see  forward;  Hattie  R. 

(IV)  George  E.  W.  Conkle,  son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Metz) 
Conkle,  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  in  Greene  town- 


594  PENNSYLVANIA 

ship,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  13,  1861.  He  was  educated 
in  the  pubhc  grammar  and  high  schools  of  Hookstovi^n,  Beaver  county, 
and  then  engaged  in  farming  with  which  he  has  been  identified  all  his 
life  on  the  homestead  farm.  In  1903  he  had  a  fine  house  erected  to  take 
the  place  of  the  one  which  had  been  built  by  his  father  and  destroyed  by 
fire.  His  farm  is  cultivated  for  general  produce,  and  is  a  very  profitable 
one.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  faith,  as  have  been  all  his  an- 
cestors, and  is  an  attendant  at  the  Mill  Creek  Church.  The  political  al- 
legiance of  the  family  has  been  given  to  the  Democratic  party  for  many 
years. 

Mr.  Conkle  married,  in  1897,  Amy  G.  Massey,  and  they  have  had 
children:  Wilbur  Clayton,  Wayne  Hampton,  Robert  Franklin,  Edna  May 
and  Anna  Mildred.  Hampton  Massey,  father  of  Mrs.  Conkle,  was  bom 
October  15,  1850,  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
is  a  son  of  Jesse  and  Caroline  (Adams)  Massey,  of  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  were  farmers.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  was  in 
demand  for  the  erection  of  buildings  in  Beaver  county.  He  married 
Lousia,  daughter  of  Eli  and  Rebecca  (Stephenson)  Massey,  and  they  had 
children :  Nora  May ;  Amy  Georgette,  who  married  Mr.  Conkle ;  Ella 
Viola ;  Charles  Morrison ;  Sarah  Bessie ;  Mary  Ethel ;  Helen.  All  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Massey  family  are  attendants  at  the  Mill  Creek  Presbyterian 
Church. 


The  name    of  Calhoon,  in  various  forms  of  spelling,  is  a 
CALHOON     familiar  one  in  this  country,  and  has  been  borne  by  men 
distinguished  in  various  walks  of  life.     They  have  been 
especially  numerous  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania. 

(I)  Milton  Calhoon,  born  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, was  educated  in  the  early  district  schools  there.  He  was  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortunes,  and  from  comparative  poverty,  worked  his 
way  upward  until,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  a  man  of  considerable 
wealth.  During  the  summer  months  he  engaged  in  farming,  occupying 
the  fall  by  towing  keel  boats,  and  in  the  winter  was  a  teamster.  He  never 
wasted  a  minute,  but  was  always  engaged  in  hard  work.  He  commenced 
with  a  small  farm,  to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time,  until  he  was 
possessed  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
In  later  life  he  was  also  actively  interested  in  sheep  raising,  and  was  suc- 
cessful in  this  undertaking.  In  political  matters  he  cast  his  vote  for  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Hookstown.  M'r.  Calhoon  married  Phoebe  Mackall,  a  sister  of  Samuel 
Mackall,  and  a  native  of  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  where  her 
family  had  long  resided.  They  had  children:  Mary  A.  Elizabeth;  James 
Mackall,  of  further  mention;  Thomas;  William  Walter;  Sarah;  Ida; 
Samuel  E.,  of  whom  further;  Hamilton. 

(II)  James  Mackall,  a  son  of  Milton  and  Phoebe  (Mackall)  Calhoon, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  595 

was  born  one  mile  south  of  Hookstown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  24,  1849.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
township,  and  from  an  early  age  assisted  his  father  in  his  farming  opera- 
tions, and  thus  became  practically  familiar  with  all  farming  details.  He 
very  naturally  turned  to  farming  as  his  lifework,  and  now  is  the  owner  of  a 
fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres  near  Georgetown,  Beaver 
county.  He  and  a  brother  also  own  another  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
partnership.  Mr.  Calhoon  has  put  many  improvements  on  his  home  farm, 
both  in  the  nature  of  buildings  and  methods  of  cultivation,  and  he  has 
greatly  increased  the  value  of  the  land  since  it  came  into  his  possession.  He 
is  engaged  in  general  farming,  but  makes  somewhat  of  a  specialty  of 
fruit  growing.  He  has  been  active  in  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  filled  the  office  of  road  supervisor  very  capably.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Calhoon  married, 
in  1878,  Adele  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Laughlin,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  this  region.  They  have  had  children:  Clara  May;  Phoebe  Maude; 
Sarah,  deceased;  Nellie;  Ada;  Lelia.  A  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Cal- 
hoon, Benoni  Dawson,  whose  wife  was  a  Mackall,  brought  slaves  to  George- 
town, Beaver  county,  and  later  freed  them. 

(II)  Samuel  E.  Calhoon,  son  of  Milton  and  Phoebe  (Mackall)  Cal- 
hoon, was  born  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1863. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Greene  township,  and 
throughout  his  life  he  has  been  actively  connected  with  farming.  His 
farm  consists  of  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres,  on  which  he  raises 
general  produce  and  a  considerable  amount  of  fine  fruit.  He  has  erected  a 
number  of  modern  buildings  on  this  property  and  has  improved  it  in  many 
other  directions,  greatly  increasing  its  original  value. 

Mr.  Calhoon  married  (first)  in  the  fall  of  1889,  Belle  C.  Boyd,  of 
Greene  township;  he  married  (second)  in  1904,  Florence  Adams,  also  of 
Greene  township.  Children  by  the  first  marriage:  Clyde  M.,  who  was 
graduated  as  a  bookkeeper  in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio,  is  now  a  successful 
lumberman  in  Jasper  county,  Missouri;  Ethel  M.,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the 
Woodlawn  High  School.  Mr.  Calhoon  is  a  Republican  in  political  affairs, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


The  Courtney  family  came  from  England  originally,  and 
COURTNEY  settled  in  Virginia,  from  whence  some  members  migrated 
to  West  Virginia.  John  Courtney  was  bom  in  Wheeling, 
West  Virginia,  and  died  in  1873.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city,  and  there  also  married  Elizabeth  Marsh,  who  was  bom 
in  England,  December  28,  1843.  She  came  to  this  country  in  1858  with  her 
stepfather,  Richard  Burkett,  who  was  a  master  builder  and  went  at  first 
to  Philadelphia  and  then  for  a  time  was  employed  in  Carlisle.  He  re- 
turned to  England  but  after  a  short  time  came  back  to  the  United  States, 
and  found  employment  in  Wheeling,  where  he  died  in  1885  at  the  age  of 


596  PENNSYLVANIA 

sixty-eight  years,  his  widow  dying  in  1889.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Courtney 
was  Daniel  Marsh,  who  Hved  and  died  in  England.  Mrs.  Courtney  is  now 
living  in  Los  Angeles,  California.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Courtney  had  children: 
Edwin,  disappeared  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  and  no  trace  of  him  was 
ever  found;  Lewis  Samuel,  of  Canton,  Ohio;  Emma,  married  William 
Britton,  of  Los  Angeles,  California;  Addison,  see  forward. 

Addison  Courtney,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Marsh)  Courtney,  was 
born  at  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  September  30,  1873.  He  was  reared 
by  his  maternal  grandparents  and  educated  in  Wheeling.  Upon  the  com- 
pletion of  his  education  he  entered  upon  his  business  career  by  working  in  a 
glass  factory  in  Wheeling,  remaining  there  until  1889,  when  he  removed 
to  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  There  he  found  a  position  in 
the  H.  C.  Fry  Glass  Works,  resigning  it  in  favor  of  one  with  the  Phoenix 
Glass  Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for  a  period  of  eleven  years. 
During  this  time  he  was  foreman  of  the  blowing  department  in  Factory  No. 
2,  during  five  years.  Three  years  were  then  spent  in  the  employ  of  Ben 
Mulheim  &  Son,  and  for  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  lived  in  West  Bridge- 
water.  In  1905  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  his  mother-in-law, 
Mrs.  Mary  Barnett,  this  enterprise  having  been  started  by  Mrs.  Barnett 
in  1897.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Courtney  is  a  Republican,  with  a  decided 
inclination  to  the  Prohibition  party.  In  1908  he  was  elected  burgess  on 
the  Prohibition  ticket,  his  term  expiring  January  i,  1914,  and  he  was  the 
only  burgess  elected  in  Pennsylvania  on  the  Prohibition  ticket  at  that 
time.  He  is  acting  chief  of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department  and  secretary 
of  the  Union  Building  and  Loan  Association.  His  fraternal  affiliations  are 
as  follows:  Rochester  Lodge,  No.  229,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  he 
has  been  past  master;  is  also  a  member  of  Eureka  Chapter,  No.  167, 
Royal  Arch  Masons;  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Bridgewater;  McKinley 
Commandery,  Knights  of  Malta,  of  Beaver  Falls;  and  a  member  of  the 
American  Flint  Glass  Workers  Union,  No.  36.  He  was  appointed  tax 
collector  of  West  Bridgewater  in  the  spring  of  1914.  On  January  5, 
1914,  he  was  commissioned  justice  of  the  peace  by  Governor  John  K. 
Tenor,  of  Pennsylvania,  for  a  term  of  six  years,  expiring  January  5, 
1920.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Mr.  Courtney  married,  in  1897,  Harriet  Ann  Barnett,  bom  in  Bed- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Mary  (Ede)  Barnett. 
They  came  from  Tennessee  to  West  Bridgewater,  where  he  was  a  miner. 
They  were  both  natives  of  Cornwall,  England.  He  established  himself 
in  the  grocery  business  in  1895,  and  conducted  this  until  his  death  two 
years  later.  The  business  was  then  conducted  by  Mrs.  Barnett  alone, 
until  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Courtney,  became  associated  with  her.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Barnett  had  children :  May  Bray,  married  George  Treverton,  of 
West  Bridgewater;  Harriet  Ann,  who  became  Mrs.  Courtney,  as  above 
stated ;  Beatrice,  married  Clarence  E.  Kramer,  of  West  Bridgewater.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Courtney  were  born  the  following  named  children:  Mildred 
M.,  William  E.,  Chester  A.,  Edwin  S. 


'lX)  cn4y\^nyyj^ 


^^^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  597 

Concerning  the  name  Vance,  O'Hart,  in  his  "Irish  Pedigrees," 
VANCE     says,  "this  name  was  at  one  time  De  Vans;  was  modernized 

Vans;  and  more  lately  Vance.  In  Scottish  heraldry  it  is  re- 
corded that  few  of  the  ancient  names  of  Scotland  can  trace  their  origin 
to  a  more  distinguished  foreign  source."  Vances  are  numerous  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  United  States,  many  of  the  families  having  been 
there  settled  by  immigrants  arriving  at  southern  ports  of  entry,  and  still 
others  landing  further  north  and  joining  their  kinsmen  in  the  southland. 

(I)  This  chronicle  begins  with  Colonel  David  Vance,  who  held  a 
position  upon  the  staff  of  General  Washington,  being  an  intimate  friend  of 
that  gallant  officer  and  inspired  statesman.  He  was  compelled  to  resign 
his  honorable  place  as  advisor  to  General  Washington  and  to  retire  from 
active  service  because  of  the  increasing  infirmities  of  fast  approaching 
old  age,  he  being  at  the  time  of  his  military  service  far  past  the  prime  of 
life.  He  married  and  had  issue,  among  whom  was  Robert,  of  whom 
further. 

(II)  Robert  Vance,  son  of  Colonel  David  Vance,  was  born  in  North- 
umberland county,  Virginia,  about  1728.  He  obtained  his  education  in  that 
oldest  of  southern  universities,  William  and  Mary  College,  and  in  his 
later  life,  following  the  example  of*  a  soldier  father,  enlisted  in  the  Colonial 
army  in  the  Thirteenth  Regiment  Virginia  Cavalry,  and  fought  for  seven 
years  in  the  cause  of  independence.  He  also  served  in  the  American  army 
during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  was  the  lieutenant  in  charge  of 
the  secret  burial  of  General  Braddock,  after  that  gallant  officer  met  his 
death  at  the  hands  of  his  Indian  foes.  Soon  after  the  capture  of  Fort 
Du  Quesne  he  came  to  Allegheny  county  and  there  purchased  land,  now 
covered  by  the  city  of  Coraopolis,  being  the  first  white  settler  in  the  Ohio 
Valley,  coming  there  the  year  following  Braddock's  defeat.  Here  he 
was  a  farmer,  and  the  danger  from  marauding  and  hostile  Indians  at  that 
time  being  very  great,  and  his  land  being  the  most  central  to  all  the  ad- 
joining farms,  he  and  his  neighbors  there  erected  a  fort,  known  as  "Vance's 
Fort."  Although  dignified  with  this  military  title,  it  was  in  reality  no  more 
than  an  enclosure  or  stockade,  composed  of  long  and  stout  logs  set  so 
deeply  in  the  earth  as  to  be  able  to  withstand  a  rush  and  so  closely  to- 
gether as  to  be  impervious  to  a  storm  of  arrows.  There  were  small 
openings  in  the  wall  of  logs  to  permit  the  besieged  party  to  aim  their 
-rifles  against  their  savage  attackers.  To  this  haven  of  refuge  the  entire 
neighborhood  fled  in  time  of  alarm,  and  by  this  union  of  their  forces  were 
often  able  to  repel  attacks  that,  were  no  such  asylum  at  hand,  would  have 
undoubtedly  been  disastrous,  both  because  of  the  superior  numbers  of  the 
Indians  and  the  wiles  of  their  warfare.  Until  his  death,  in  1818,  Robert 
Vance  was  the  recognized  leader  of  his  community  in  all  public  and 
military  matters,  in  the  latter  because  of  his  wide  experience  as  a  soldier, 
and  in  the  former  because  in  education  and  aptitude  for  leadership  he 
was  far  above  his  neighbors.     He  died  respected  for  his  many  good  works, 


598  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  is  buried  in  the  old  Montour  Cemetery.  He  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
the  old  Montour  Church  and  was  a  member  of  its  first  session.  In  the 
public  records  of  the  day,  regarding  the  various  claims  as  to  the  honor 
of  being  named  as  the  first  settler  of  Beaver  county,  there  is  an  affidavit 
of  Robert  Vance,  sworn  and  subscribed  to  before  John  Way,  a  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  dated  December  6,  1807, 
wherein  he  declares  that  "he  hath  for  the  past  fifty  years  been  well 
acquainted  with  the  tract  of  land  in  question,  having  lived  upwards  of 
thirty  years  of  the  latter  part  of  that  time  in  the  same  neighborhood;" 
and  "That  the  land  during  that  time  was  in  the  quiet  and  peaceable  pos- 
session of  John  McDonald,  his  heirs,  or  those  under  whom  the  said  John 
McDonald  claims."     The  land  referred  to  was  opposite  Logstown. 

Robert  Vance  married  Jean  White ;  she  was  a  woman  of  exceptional  at- 
tainments and  took  her  part  in  all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life, 
and  stood  by  her  husband  all  through;  she  was  a  famous  beauty  in  her 
youth,    and    an    accomplished    horsewoman.     Children:      David,    Samuel, 

Joseph,  Robert,  William,  Sarah,  married  Ferguson;  Jennie,  married 

McCabe ;  Elizabeth,  Andrew,  of  whom  further. 

(Ill)  Andrew  Vance,  youngest  of  the  nine  children  of  Robert  Vance, 
was  born  July  27,  1793,  died  November  19,  1858.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  and  later  continued  his  education  as  the  opportunity  offered. 
Possessed  of  a  fondness  for  mathematics,  he  indulged  this  liking  by  taking 
up  surveying,  also  cultivating  decided  musical  talent,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  teacher  of  music  and  commercial  branches  in  Allegheny  and  Wash- 
ington counties,  Pennsylvania.  In  1856  he  moved  to  Beaver  county,  in- 
tending to  open  an  academy  at  Frankfort  Springs,  and  for  that  purpose 
purchased  an  old  brick  mansion  near  the  Washington  county  line.  This 
building  had  been  erected  in  1801-02  by  James  Dungan  and  for  a  long 
time  had  been  a  famous  hostelry,  but  before  adequate  arrangements  and 
alterations  had  been  rnade  to  house  the  pupils,  Mr.  Vance's  death  termin- 
ated all  further  plans,  and  the  project  was  abandoned.  He  had  been  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  Kings  creek,  Washington 
county,  property  which  was  sold  soon  after  the  Civil  War,  and  thus  left 
the  possession  of  the  family.  He  also  owned  ninety  acres  of  excellent 
farming  land  in  Beaver  county.  Mr.  Vance  was  always  an  ardent  church 
worker,  and  for  a  long  time  was  the  leader  of  singing  in  the  old  Montour 
Church,  his  being  a  familiar  figure  to  the  members  of  that  organization 
as  he  led  the  congregation  in  the  grand  old  hymns,  so  many  of  which 
have  been  supplanted  by  probably  more  artistic,  but  certainly  no  more 
tuneful  melodies.  In  the  Sunday  school  he  was  likewise  prominent,  not  only 
in  the  direction  of  the  singing,  but  as  a  teacher  of  a  class.  He  was  as 
strong  in  his  political  beliefs  as  in  his  religious  faith,  and  all  his  life  sup- 
ported the  Whig  party,  both  with  his  vote  and  his  influence  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. His  private  life  was  lived  in  the  same  simple  and  unpretentious 
channels  as  his  public  life,  and  while  he  was  ever  the  faithful  and  duti- 


BEAVER   COUNTY  599 

ful  husband  and  father,  he  reared  his  family  with  a  hand  governed  by  the 
strictness  born  of  love,  and  a  rigidity  of  conduct  was  required  that  would 
be  exacted  by  none  unless  he  had  the  deepest  good  of  his  children  at  heart. 

Mr.  Vance  married  Nancy,  daughter  of  John  Byers,  of  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Children:  i.  Sarah,  married  Robert  Carothers; 
died  in  the  spring  of  1913,  aged  eighty-two  years.  2.  Anna,  of  whom 
further.  3.  John,  since  1873  a  contractor  of  Newark,  Ohio,  where  he  died; 
he  was  a  soldier  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  took  part  in  most  of  the  important 
battles  in  which  that  regiment  was  engaged,  with  the  exception  of  those 
that  took  place  while  he  was  in  the  hospital,  recovering  from  wounds 
received  in  action;  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  he  sustained  an  injury 
from  the  enemy's  fire  that  made  him  a  lifelong  cripple,  also  in  the  first 
charge  of  Hancock's  corps  at  the  famous  "Bloody  Angle"  and  again  a 
slight  wound  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  4.  Robert,  died  at  Hot  Springs, 
Arkansas,  in  January,  1908;  through  an  unfortunate  accident  he  had  lost 
the  sight  of  one  eye.  5.  Alexander,  who  enlisted  in  the  First  Regiment, 
West  Virginia  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  wounded  at  Grafton;  im- 
mediately after  being  discharged  from  the  hospital  he  re-enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  Eighty-fifth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  in  that  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  having  veteranized  t>y 
his  third  enlistment;  during  his  service  he  participated  in  twenty-five 
decisively  fought  battles,  including  those  of  the  Peninsular  campaign.  6. 
Mary  I.,  of  whom  further. 

Two  of  the  three  daughters  of  Andrew  Vance,  Anna  and  Mary  I., 
live  in  the  old  mansion  which  was  designed  by  their  father  to  be  his 
academy,  their  home  the  scene  of  his  hopes  and  aspirations,  which  were 
cut  short  so  untimely. 


The  Mitchells  of  Pennsylvania  are  descended  from  many 
MITCHELL  sources  and  are  found  at  early  dates  in  Chester,  Lan- 
caster, Cumberland  and  Montgomery  counties.  They  are 
of  Scotch-Irish  and  English  descent,  and  all  through  the  years  of  their 
residence  in  Pennsylvania  have  produced  men  who  were  leaders  in  law, 
medicine,  politics  and  business.  The  branch  of  the  family  under  discus- 
sion in  this  article  did  not  come  to  America  until  1858,  but  their  influence 
has  been  beneficially  felt. 

(I)  Thomas  Mitchell,  who  was  born  in  county  Monaghan,  Ireland,  died 
in  Williamsport,  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1901,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years.  He  was  educated  in  Ireland,  and  lived  there  until 
the  age  of  thirty-five  years.  There  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing, but  finding  that  this  was  becoming  an  unprofitable  line  of  industry, 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1858,  being  the  only  one  of  his  family 
to  do  so.  Here  he  became  a  contractor  for  the  Reading  Railroad  Com- 
pany.    He  was  Republican  in  his  political  views,  and  a  member  of  the 


6oo  PENNSYLVANIA 

Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  held  official  position.  He  married  (first) 
Mary  Ross,  who  died  in  Ireland,  where  she  was  born,  daughter  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Frazier)  Ross,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1870;  he 
married  (second)  a  Miss  Cassady  in  England.  Children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ross:  Thomas,  born  in  Ireland;  John,  died  in  New  York;  William,  of 
Belfast,  Ireland;  Margaret,  born  in  Dundee,  Scotland;  Jane,  born  in  Ire- 
land; Susan,  born  in  Ireland;  Mary,  married  Mr.  Mitchell,  as  above  men- 
tioned; John;  Richard.  Mr.  Mitchell  had  children:  John  Ross,  of  further 
mention;  Thomas,  resides  in  Coffeeville;  Robert,  resides  in  Williamsport ; 
Margaret,  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years. 

(II)  John  Ross  Mitchell,  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Ross)  Mitchell, 
was  born  in  county  Monaghan,  Ireland,  April  2,  1855.  His  education  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Ireland,  for  the  most  part,  but  after 
his  arrival  in  this  country  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Williamsport  for  a  time.  He  then  went  to  Pittsburgh 
and  to  Conway,  and  on  October  15,  1877,  commenced  working  on  the 
Pennsylvania  &  Erie  Railroad.  In  1881  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad  Company.  His  first  position 
on  the  railroad  was  as  brakeman,  which  he  filled  for  two  and  a  half  years; 
he  was  then  fireman  for  four  years;  fireman  for  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort 
Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad  for  seven  years ;  September  18,  1889,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  position  of  freight  engineer,  which  he  held  for  more 
than  twelve  years,  and  was  then  appointed  engineer  on  a  passenger  train, 
an  office  he  is  still  filling.  He  has  always  given  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  served  as  burgess  for  more  than  three  years, 
and  is  now  in  his  twelfth  year  of  service  as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is 
one  of  the  stockholders  in  the  Automatic  Train  Control  Company.  His 
religious  affiliation  is  with  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Relief  Society,  and  the  Brotherhood  of 
Locomotive  Engineers. 

Mr.  Mitchell  married,  August  15,  1881,  Naomi  Pictou,  born  near 
Louisville,  Pennsylvania,  August  i,  1862.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Pictou,  born  in  Wales,  emigrated  to  America  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years, 
was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  Louisville,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  He  married  Mary  Deater,  born  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1825,  now  living  in  Sunbury,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  children : 
Thomas,  mrried  a  Miss  West;  Naomi,  mentioned  above.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mitchell  have  one  child,  Evaline,  who  married  E.  J.  Chaisty,  of  Baltimore. 


Michael  Conner,  born  in  Ireland  about  the  year  1804,  died 
CONNER     near  Elkins,  West  Virginia,  in  1894.     He  was  educated  in 

his  native  country,  and  was  still  a  young  lad  when  he  came 
to  the  United  States.  He  settled  near  Elkins,  West  Virginia,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming,  and  was  actively  identified  with  this  occupation  all  his 
life.     He   gave  his  political   allegiance  to  the   Republican   party,   and   in 


BEAVER    COUNTY  6oi 

religion  was  of  the  Catholic  faith.  He  married  Sarah  Powers,  born  near 
Elkins,  West  Virginia,  where  her  father  was  a  farmer  and  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  She  had  three  brothers  and  one  sister  as  follows: 
George,  married  Margaret  Hedrick,  and  had  a  daughter  Deltha,  who  mar- 
ried James  Smith;  William,  married  Lou  Hedrick;  Thomas,  was  killed 
in  the  Civil  War;  Martha,  married  Michael  Ward,  and  had  two  daughters. 
George  and  William  were  also  soldiers  during  the  Civil  War.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Conner  had  children:  Mary,  married  Patrick  McGinnis,  and  had 
five  children ;  Margaret,  died  unmarried ;  James,  died  unmarried ;  John, 
married  Eliza  Robins,  and  had  three  children,  lives  in  Evart,  Michigan; 
Ellen,  married  James  Crum,  has  four  children,  and  lives  in  Conway, 
Pennsylvania;  Elizabeth,  married  James  McCrackin,  has  four  children, 
and  lives  in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia;  M.  William,  of  further  mention; 
Frank,  died  unmarried;  Anna,  resides  with  her  mother. 

(H)  M.  William  Conner,  son  of  Michael  and  Sarah  (Powers)  Conner, 
was  born  near  Elkins,  West  Virginia,  October  22,  1866.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Elkins,  and  when  he  had  finished  his  education 
followed  various  occupations  for  some  years.  Among  the  firms  with 
whom  he  worked  was  the  Westinghouse  Electric  Company,  with  whom 
he  remained  eight  years.  In  1908  he  established  himself  in  the  butcher 
business,  opening  a  store  in  Conway,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
successfully  carried  on  this  business  up  to  April  i,  1914.  His  store  was 
well  equipped  and  his  business  carried  on  in  a  systematic  and  up-to-date 
manner.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  and  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Conner  married,  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1892,  Elizabeth  Burkhart,  born  in  Woodsfield,  Ohio,  December 
31,  1872,  daughter  of  Wendling  Burkhart,  born  in  Germany.  He  came 
to  this  country  in  early  manhood,  and  engaged  in  farming  near  Woods- 
field,  Ohio,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He  married 
Catherine  Stornochel,  born  in  Germany,  died  in  Columbus,  Ohio.  They 
had  children:  Joseph,  of  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  married  Margaret 
Singer,  and  has  eight  children;  Regina,  married  John  Donnall,  of  Tiffin, 
Ohio,  and  has  two  children;  Margaret,  married  John  Witzberger,  of 
Wheeling,  has  eleven  children;  Catherine,  married  Charles  Witzberger, 
also  of  Wheeling,  and  has  ten  children;  Henry,  of  Kuhn,  Ohio,  married 
Isabella  Kuhn,  and  has  one  child ;  Elizabeth,  married  Mr.  Conner.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Conner  have  no  children. 


The  name  of  McNeese,  originally  spelled  McNees,  is  not 
McNEESE     one   of   frequent  occurrence  in  this  country.     The   family 

had  its  origin  in  Holland,  from  whence  they  went  to  Ire- 
land in  1608,  and  in  1668  the  earliest  member  of  the  family  to  make  her 
home  in  this  country  arrived  in  America.  This  was  Cornelia  Vansant 
(Covert)  McNees,  who  took  up  land  along  the  Harlem  river,  now  a  part  of 
the  New  York  Central  Railroad. 


6o2  PENNSYLVANIA 

(II)  The  next  generation  removed  to  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania, 
during  the  pioneer  days,  and  w^ere  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  county, 
taking  up  large  tracts  of  land.  They  were  active  in  the  early  Colonial  wars, 
and  assisted  materially  in  the  development  of  the  country.  The  McNeese 
of  this  generation  was  twice  married,  the  children  of  the  first  marriage 
being  as  follows:  Marcus,  of  further  mention;  Mary  Ann,  born  February 
4,  1814;  William,  May  13,  1816;  James,  December  2,  1818;  John,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1820,  Rachel,  October  8,  1822.  Children  by  second  marriage:  Eliza- 
beth, born  September  18,  1824;  Retta,  January  i,  1827;  Urich,  July  18, 
1830;  Sarah,  November  27,  1834. 

(III)  Marcus  McNeese,  son  of  the  preceding  by  his  first  wife,  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  9,  1812,  and  spent  his 
entire  life  in  that  county.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  volunteered 
his  services  but  was  not  accepted  because  of  a  weakness  of  his  ankles. 
He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Pleasant  Valley  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  an  active  worker  in  its  interests.  He  married  Martha  Adams,  also 
born  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  children:  William, 
born  August  9,  1833;  Catherine,  December  20,  1836;  Mary,  July  22,  1838; 
Sarah,  June  24,  1840;  Matthew,  July  24,  1843,  was  killed  while  in  service 
during  the  Civil  War;  Samuel,  of  further  mention;  Margaret,  April  16, 
1847;  Ann,  December  26,  1849;  Cornelia,  August  5,  1851. 

(IV)  Samuel  McNeese,  son  of  Marcus  and  Martha  (Adams)  McNeese, 
was  bom  in  Slippery  Rock  township,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  March 
27,  1845.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  log  school  house  near  his 
home,  at  a  time  when  the  country  was  still  so  sparsely  settled  that  on  one 
occasion  a  deer  ran  through  the  school  yard.  He  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  his  home  district  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  and  at  once 
tendered  his  services  to  his  country.  He  enlisted  in  December,  1861,  in 
Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  was  discharged,  August  2,  1862.  December  28,  1863, 
he  re-enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twenty-third  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Cumberland,  in  July,  1865.  At  that 
time  the  late  President  McKinley  was  a  major  in  the  regiment,  and  Presi- 
dent Hayes  was  its  colonel.  He  had  been  living  in  East  Palestine,  Ohio, 
prior  to  the  war,  and  at  its  close  he  returned  to  that  town,  and  for  five 
years  was  a  member  of  the  Columbiana  county  militia.  He  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Fort  Wayne  Railroad  Company  in  various  capacities.  In 
1886  he  removed  to  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
has  since  that  time  made  his  home.  He  has  followed  a  variety  of  occu- 
pations, and  was  for  a  time  tax  collector  of  the  third  ward.  He  was  at 
first  connected  with  the  United  Brethren  Church,  later  affiliated  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is  now  a  Free  Methodist.  He  was  first 
a  Republican,  later  a  Prohibitionist,  and  has  worked  earnestly  for  many 
years  to  forward  the  interests  of  this  party. 

Mr.  McNeese     married,     August     23,     1865,     Lydia     Clupper,     and 


c^C^yvT^^-^-^^^    cy^  '^^:>^^^^^^^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  603 

had  children:  Matthew  Sherman,  born  June  30,  1866,  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  S.  H.  Funkhouser  &  Company,  tinners,  of  New  Brighton;  Anna, 
bom  April  23,  1868;  John  Marcus,  July  8,  1870;  Samuel  Albert,  March 
18,  1876,  died  the  same  day. 


This  record  of  the  Coopers  of  Pennsylvania  begins  with 
COOPER  the  member  of  the  family  who  bore  arms  in  the  American 
army  in  the  war  for  independence,  Mathias  Cooper,  in 
whose  right  his  descendants  hold  membership  in  the  various  patriotic  so- 
cieties in  existence.  He  followed  agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life,  with  the 
exception  of  the  lengthy  period  devoted  to  the  Colonial  service,  and  settled 
in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  whither  he  came  from 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  from  which  locality  he  had  enlisted  in  the 
army.  He  and  his  wife  Christiana  were  the  parents  of  several  children, 
among  whom  was  Daniel. 

(H)  Daniel  Cooper,  son  of  Mathias  and  Christiana  Cooper,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  there  died.  He  became  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  his  native  township,  at  the  time  of  purchase  covered  by  a 
dense  growth  of  timber,  which  almost  impenetrable  forest  he  cleared,  erect- 
ing first  log  buildings,  later  replacing  them  with  frame  structures.  He 
cultivated  this  land  until  his  death,  the  property  now  known  as  the  ShaflFer 
farm.  He  married  Prudence  Hamilton,  and  had  children:  Ann,  Lydia, 
Christiana,  Mathias,  Thomas  Hamilton,  Jane,  Daniel,  Robert,  of  whom 
further;  Sarah,  Prudence,  Mary,  Juliana,  David.  All  of  these  thirteen 
children  grew  to  healthy  and  vigorous  maturity. 

(HI)  Robert  Cooper,  son  of  Daniel  and  Prudence  (Hamilton) 
Cooper,  was  born  in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  May 
21,  1817,  died  aged  seventy-six  years.  He  obtained  an  unusually  good 
education  in  the  subscription  and  public  schools,  which  latter  he  attended 
for  one  term.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  specializing  in  that  branch 
of  the  carpenter's  occupation  devoted  to  boat  building,  following  this 
calling  in  Freedom,  Pennsylvania,  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana.  He  later  cultivated  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Moon  township,  a  part  of  which  belonged  to  his  father,  and  in  the  clearing 
of  which  he  had  assisted.  He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  for  more  than  forty  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  session  of  that  denomination.  His  exemplary  life  and  nobility  of  char- 
acter gave  him  unquestioned  prestige  upon  the  board  of  spiritual  advisers 
of  the  church,  and  in  all  the  plans  for  extending  its  work  and  enlarging 
its  capacity  for  well  doing  his  counsel  held  much  weight.  He  married 
(first)  in  1841,  Eliza  Orr,  of  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; (second)  in  1846,  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Purdy) 
Ewing;  (third)  in  1875,  Mrs.  Alice  (Calvert)  Laird,  of  Moon  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Henry  Ewing's  father,  Alexander  Ewing, 
and  a  brother  of  Alexander  Ewing,  Henry,  also  the  father  of  Alexander 


6o4  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  Henry  Ewing,  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  while  James 
Purdy,  father  of  Jane  Purdy,  also  fought  in  that  conflict,  so  that  the 
descendants  of  the  second  marriage  of  Robert  Cooper  have  a  triple  claim 
upon  Revolutionary  ancestors.  Children  of  the  first  marriage  of  Robert 
Cooper:  William  J.  and  Robert  H.  Children  of  the  second  marriage  of 
Robert  Cooper:  Margaret  J.,  a  teacher  in  the  graded  schools  of  Paterson 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  D.  Austin,  Henry  E.,  David  K., 
Mary  Emma,  Elmer  C,  John  P.,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  John  P.  Cooper,  youngest  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Ewing) 
Cooper,  was  born  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  15,  1863.  He  was  educated  in  the  township  schools.  When  he 
was  nineteen  years  of  age  he  left  the  paternal  farm  and  passed  the  follow- 
ing ten  years  in  the  middle  west,  where  he  taught  school.  In  1893  he  re- 
turned to  the  home  farm  and  at  the  present  time  conducts  general  farming 
operations,  cultivating  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Good  fortune  has 
attended  his  agricultural  undertaking  and  he  has  derived  from  the  soil 
gratifying  yields,  results  which  give  him  high  place  among  the  farmers 
of  the  locality.  The  Republican  is  the  party  in  which  he  places  his  con- 
fidence, and  in  local  public  afifairs  he  has  ever  taken  an  active  part,  having 
for  nine  years  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  was  township  auditor 
for  six  years.  Mr.  Cooper  married,  in  1903,  Olive  L.,  daughter  of  William 
F.  Dodds,  of  Nebraska.  They  have  children:  William  Roy  and  Mary 
Elizabeth. 


The  McNallys  have  come  to  America  at  various  times,  and 
McNALLY     the  greater  number  of  them  have  been  identified  with  in- 
dustrial callings.     Some,  however,  are  also  to  be  found  in 
professional  and  diplomatic  lines. 

(I)  Philip  McNally  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1896.  He  settled  at  Braddock,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  his  death  occurred  the  following  year,  and  he  is  buried  in  Calvary 
Cemetery,  Pittsburgh.  He  married,  in  Ireland,  Ann  Haney,  also  a  native 
of  that  country,  who  died  in  1891.  They  had  children:  Martin,  see  for- 
ward ;  Hubert ;  Mary,  deceased ;  Bridget,  deceased ;  Michael ;  Patrick,  de- 
ceased; Ann;  John,  deceased. 

(II)  Martin  McNally,  son  of  Philip  and  Ann  (Haney)  McNally,  was 
born  in  county  Galway,  Ireland,  November  8,  1856.  He  emigrated  to 
America  in  1881,  arriving  here  in  the  month  of  May,  and  went  to  Albany, 
New  York,  where  he  was  employed  until  1885.  He  held  a  position  on 
the  steamboat  "St.  John,"  of  the  People's  Line,  and  while  in  the  com- 
pany's employ  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  one  of  his  legs.  For  the  next  three 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  fruit  business,  then  removed  to  Braddock, 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  opened  a  hotel,  of  which  he 
was  the  proprietor  and  manager  until  he  took  a  trip  to  Ireland  in  1902. 
He  remained  in  his  native  land  for  the  period  of  one  year,  then  returned 


BEAVER    COUNTY  605 

to  Pennsylvania,  and  lived  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  until  1908.  Aliquippa, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  was  the  next  scene  of  his  activities,  and 
there  he  purchased  the  Columbia  Hotel,  and  has  been  its  proprietor  since 
that  time.  It  is  conducted  upon  the  most  modern  and  approved  plan, 
and  is  one  of  the  finest  hotels  of  its  size  and  class.  Mr.  McNally  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Aliquippa  National  Bank,  and  is  one  of  its 
directors.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  "The  Owls,"  which  was  organized 
in  1913,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party.  He  married,  in  1887, 
Bridget  C.  Conway,  born  in  Ireland.    They  have  no  children. 


The  name  of  Whalen  is  one  which  has  always  been  con- 
WHALEN     nected  with  honorable  industrial  enterprises.     It  is  one  of 

frequent  occurrence  in  Ireland,  and  many  of  the  represen- 
tatives of  this  family  have  come  to  the  United  States.  Michael  Whalen 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Ireland,  where  he  married  Mary  Dorsey. 

(II)  Patrick  Whalen,  son  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Dorsey)  Whalen, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1870.  For  a 
time  he  made  his  home  in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  then  removed  to  CollierSj 
Brooke  county,  West  Virginia,  where  he  died  in  1891.  He  had  been  in 
the  employ  of  the  Panhandle  Traction  Company  for  a  number  of  years. 
His  widow  and  children  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  and  later  to 
Aliquippa,  where  she  established  herself  in  the  grocery  business  in  which 
she  has  been  eminently  successful  and  has  amassed  a  competence.  She 
is  now  the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate.  Mr.  Whalen  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  all  of  the  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr. 
Whalen  married,  in  Ireland,  in  1868,  Catherine,  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Mary  (Dorsey)  Trail,  both  of  whom  lived  and  died  in  Ireland.  Patrick 
Trail  was  a  participant  in  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  and  was  active  in  many 
of  the  battles  which  were  fought  in  the  East  Indies.  They  had  children: 
Mary  Catherine ;  Catherine,  who  married  Patrick  Whalen ;  Bridget.  All 
of  these  daughters  are  living.  Patrick  and  Catherine  (Trail)  Whalen  had 
children  as  follows:  i.  Michael,  was  a  general  yardmaster  at  Connells- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  for  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  Company;  died 
August  II,  1910;  he  married  Annie  McGuinness,  of  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and 
had  children:  Catherine,  Leo,  Mary  Agnes,  Regis,  Inez.  2.  Mary,  died 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  3.  Margaret,  married  P.  L.  Cox,  of  Hazle- 
wood,  supervisor  of  the  plant  of  Jones  &  Laughlin;  has  one  child,  Eliza- 
beth. 4.  Annie,  married  John  Sullivan,  yardmaster  in  the  Jones  &  Laughlin 
plant  at  Hazlewood;  has  one  child,  Eleanor.  5.  Lizzie,  married  E.  S. 
Gallagher,  an  engineer  at  Aliquippa,  has  one  child,  Francis.  6.  Katie, 
married  Thomas  Jones,  in  the  grocery  business  at  Homestead,  Pennsyl- 
vania; no  children.  7.  Marcus,  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  8.  Eleanor, 
married  Thomas  Coyne,  of  No.  104  Thirteenth  street.  North  Braddock, 
Pennsylvania ;  has  children :  Paul  and  Ilene.  9.  James,  an  engineer,  un- 
married, lives  in  Aliquippa.     10.  Patrick,  deceased. 


6o6  PENNSYLVANIA 

Julius  Zimmerman,  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in  1827, 

ZIMMERMAN     received  an  excellent  educarion  in  his  native  country. 

He  came  to  the  United  States  in  early  manhood,  and 

found  employment  as  a  steward  on  the  "Robert  E.  Lee,"  remaining  in  this 

position  many  years.     His  political  allegiance  was  given  to  the  Democratic 

party.     He  married  Sarah  Ann  Kane,  born  in  Steubenville,  Ohio,   1848, 

daughter  of  and  Ann   (Jones)   Kane,  both  natives  of  the  state  of 

Maine,  and  who  removed  to  Steubenville,  Ohio.  He  was  employed  in 
various  capacities  on  the  river,  and  died  of  yellow  fever  in  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana.  She  removed  to  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
she  died  in  1889.  They  had  children:  i.  A  daughter,  who  died  at  an 
early  age.  2.  Samuel  M.,  who  became  the  general  manager  of  the  Roch- 
ester Tumbler  Works,  and  was  killed  on  the  railroad.  3.  Catherine.  4. 
Sarah  Ann,  who  became  the  wife  of  Julius  Zimmerman;  she  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

(II)  Joseph  J.  Zimmerman,  son  of  Julius  and  Sarah  Ann  (Kane) 
Zimmerman,  was  born  in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  December  25,  1870.  His  early 
years  were  spent  in  that  town  where  he  attended  the  public  schools,  and 
was  then  sent  to  Mount  Pleasant,  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  From  1887 
to  1890  he  was  a  student  at  the  Mount  Pleasant  Qassical  and  Scientific 
Institution,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Military  College,  at  Chester,  Penn- 
sylvania, after  which  he  came  to  Rochester,  Beaver  county.  He 
formed  a  business  connection  with  the  Rochester  Tumbler  Works, 
which  continued  in  force  until  1906,  with  entire  satisfaction  to  all 
interested.  He  had  commenced  in  the  mold  making  department,  and  had 
worked  his  way  upward  through  all  grades  until  in  1900  he  was  made  man- 
ager of  the  Keystone  Tumbler  Plant,  which  had  been  erected  in  1897. 
In  1906  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  glass  manufacturing  business, 
and  established  himself  in  the  mercantile  line,  succeeding  Sharp  &  Hoffman, 
and  was  eminently  successful  until  1909.  He  then  became  the  secretary  of 
the  Rochester  Mold  &  Machine  Company,  an  office  he  is  still  filling  with 
remarkable  executive  ability.  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  been  an  active  worker 
in  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party,  and  was  chosen  as  alternate  dele- 
gate to  the  national  convention  held  in  Chicago,  in  1904,  taking  the  seat 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Hon.  M.  S.  Quay.  He  has  aflSliations  with 
numerous  organizations,  among  them  being  the  following:  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Rochester  Lodge,  No.  229,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons;  Eureka  Chapter,  No.  167,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  New  Castle 
Lodge  of  Perfection ;  and  Scottish  Rite  Masons,  of  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  for  twelve  years  has  been  the  secretary  of  the  Blue  Lodge 
at  Rochester.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  Mr. 
Zimmerman  is  an  attendant  of  the  same.  In  1896  he  erected  the  beautiful 
dwelling  at  No.  170  West  Park,  in  which  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  married,  October  12,  1893,  Alice  J.,  born  in  Rochester, 
Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  John  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Johnson)  Hoffman,  the 


BEAVER    COUNTY  607 

latter  now  deceased.  John  J.  Hoffman  was  a  prominent  merchant  in 
Rochester,  where  he  is  still  living,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Beaver 
Valley  Electric  Company.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zimmerman  have  children:  Eliza- 
beth Bell,  born  July  21,  1894;  Nell  Wilson,  November  17,  1900. 


In  Beaver  county,  a  region  devoted  chiefly  to  agricultural 
McGUIRE     pursuits,   the    McGuires   of   Ireland   have   been   successful 

farmers  ever  since  that  district  has  been  their  home,  which 
has  been  for  one  full  century,  Daniel  McGuire  having  been  the  first  of  his 
branch  of  the  McGuire  family  to  come  to  the  United  States. 

(I)  Daniel  McGuire  was  bom  in  Ireland  about  1763,  and  in  that 
country  was  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  In  181 3  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
landing  in  Pennsylvania,  and  proceeding  immediately  to  Beaver  county, 
where  his  descendants  have  since  lived.  He  made  farming  his  occupation 
in  the  land  of  his  adoption  and  owned  land  in  Economy  township,  dying 
on  the  homestead  there  in  1854.  He  became  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party  as  soon  as  he  obtained  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  American 
politics  and  political  methods,  and  with  his  family  was  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church.  He  married  Mary  O'Connell,  who  died  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  her  birthplace  being  the  same  as  his.  Children  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  (O'Connell)  McGuire,  all  deceased:  i.  Grace,  married 
(first)  a  Mr.  Dougherty,  (second)  John  Ingles.  2.  Charles,  of  whom 
further.  3.  Marjorie,  married  John  Downey.  4.  Nancy,  married  Nathaniel 
Downey. 

(II)  Charles  McGuire,  only  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (O'Connell) 
McGuire,  was  born  in  county  Derry,  Ireland,  January  i,  1800,  died  in 
Economy  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1854.  His  education, 
begun  in  his  native  land  in  the  private  schools,  was  completed  in  the  United 
States  in  institutions  of  the  same  character,  his  father  having  brought  him 
to  this  country  when  he  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years.  Completing  his 
studies,  for  a  time  he  rented  land  from  his  father,  on  which  he  conducted 
agricultural  operations,  and  a  few  years  later  purchased  his  father's  farm, 
there  residing  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  but  little  more 
than  in  the  prime  of  life.  His  religious  convictions  were  those  of  his 
parents,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  faithful  communicants  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  In  politics  his  sympathies  were  identical  with  those  of 
his  father,  and  his  political  activity  was  ever  for  the  benefit  and  advance- 
ment of  the  Democratic  party.  Many  township  offices  were  conferred 
upon  him  by  his  neighbors,  including  school  director,  director  of  the  poor, 
road  supervisor,  and  numerous  others,  his  administration  of  all  public 
trusts  being  marked  by  a  willing  and  capable  attitude  that  made  him  an 
ideal  public  servant,  his  efforts  tending  toward  the  best  possible  end,  re- 
gardless of  the  labor  entailed. 

He  married  Catherine  Corby,  bom  in  Limerick,  Ireland,  died  on  the 
home  farm  in  Economy  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  October 


6o8  PENNSYLVANIA 

22,  1874,  daughter  of  John  Corby,  a  merchant  of  Ireland,  who  in  the 
United  States  became  a  farmer,  dying  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.    He 

married  a  Miss  Sheehan.     Children  of  John  and  (Sheehan)   Corby, 

all  deceased:  i.  Catherine,  of  previous  mention,  married  Charles  Mc- 
Guire.  2.  John,  died  in  Missouri;  married  Amanda  Music.  3.  William, 
married,  and  spent  his  life  in  Missouri,  where  his  death  occurred.  4. 
Mary,  died  unmarried.  5.  Bridget,  died  unmarried.  6.  Michael,  died  un- 
married. 7.  Frank  P.,  married  (first) ,  (second)  a  Miss  Robedoux.  Chil- 
dren of  Charles  and  Catherine  (Corby)  McGuire:  i.  Daniel,  died  unmarried. 
2.  John,  deceased ;  married  Ann  Llambias.  3.  Charles,  died  unmarried^ 
4.  Michael,  of  whom  further.  5.  Mary,  died  unmarried.  6.  Joseph,  mar- 
ried Helena  Zink,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh;  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  both  living  at  home,  Charles  and  Mary.  7.  James,  died  aged 
sixteen  years.    8.  Ellen,  died  unmarried. 

(Ill)  Michael  McGuire,  fourth  child  and  son  of  Charles  and  Catherine 
(Corby)  McGuire,  was  born  in  Economy  tovraship,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  24,  1839.  As  a  boy  he  attended  the  township  public 
schools,  living  on  the  home  farm,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father  he 
managed  the  home  farm  for  his  mother  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
He  then  purchased  the  interests  of  his  co-heirs  in  the  home  property  and 
became  sole  possessor  of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  that  had 
comprised  the  old  homestead.  Thus  for  practically  sixty  years  he  has  had 
full  charge  of  the  homestead,  for  the  most  of  that  time  as  owner.  After 
many  years  devoted  to  the  dairy  business,  chiefly  in  the  making  of  butter, 
he  later  confined  himself,  in  a  great  degree,  to  truck  raising.  For  the  first 
named  product  of  his  farm  there  was  ever  a  large  demand  because  of  its 
sweetness,  purity  and  freshness,  and  he  encountered  little  trouble  in  finding  a 
ready  market  for  his  farm  produce.  He  is  now  retired  from  active  pur- 
suits, enjoying  a  well  earned  rest.  While  found  in  his  most  familiar  element 
as  an  agriculturist,  and  the  fact  that  he  is  vice-president  of  the  Beaver 
County  Agricultural  Association  shows  that  his  reputation  among  farmers 
is  one  of  merit  in  that  line,  Mr.  McGuire  has  given  no  small  share  of  his 
time  and  attention  to  business  matters,  having  for  seventeen  years  been 
president  of  the  Wall  Rose  Fire  Insurance  Company,  an  organization  of 
which  he  has  been  secretary  for  the  past  eleven  years,  still  continuing  in 
that  capacity.  As  the  head  of  the  above-mentioned  organization  he  placed 
its  affairs  upon  a  business  basis  of  unshaking  firmness,  and  his  works 
show  to  the  present  day  in  that  it  is  known  as  a  responsible  and  reliable 
institution,  well-officered  and  well-managed.  To  the  public  service  he  has 
also  given  generously,  for  ten  years  directing  the  educational  affairs  of 
the  township  as  school  director,  and  for  six  years  holding  the  office  of 
township  auditor.  The  years  of  his  life,  seventy-five  in  number,  in  1914, 
have  been  spent  in  an  activity  that  always  tended  toward  useful  ends,  and 
the  scope  of  his  connections  bespeaks  a  man  of  wide  sympathies  and 
equally  broad  abilities.     His  entrance  into  political  life  was  as  the  repre- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  609 

sentative  of  the  Democratic  party,  although  at  the  polls  he  was  accorded 
the  support  of  his  many  friends,  irrespective  of  party  lines,  and  in  religion 
he  adheres  to  the  family  faith,  the  Roman  Catholic,  as  does  his  wife. 

He  married,  June  13,  1871,  Catherine  Moore,  born  in  Sharpsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  May  28,  1851,  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Dorst- 
witz)  Moore,  both  natives  of  Prussia.  George  Moore  was  a  brick  manu- 
facturer and  farmer  during  his  American  residence,  and  died  in  Economy 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  aged  seventy-two  years,  his  wife's 
death  occurring  in  that  place.  Children  of  George  and  Margaret  (Dorst- 
witz)  Moore:  i.  Frederick,  deceased;  married  Elizabeth  Minick.  2.  John, 
served  about  four  years  in  the  Civil  War  in  the  Fourth  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  under  Captain  B.  F.  Blood,  was  captured  at  Antietam,  released 
at  close  of  war,  held  at  Andersonville,  Libby  and  Belle  Island  prisons; 
married  Mary  Broadwick;  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania;  they  are  the 
parents  of :  George ;  Thomas ;  Catherine,  unmarried ;  Clements,  married 
William  Seifker;  Adalaide,  unmarried;  John,  married  Augusta  Moran; 
Lawrence,  unmarried.  3.  Mary,  married  John  Chisler;  lives  in  Canons- 
burg,  Pennsylvania;  children:  Barbara  A.,  married  Matthew  Mallory; 
Margaret,  married  William  Der;  William,  married  Frances  Wright;  Eliza- 
beth, married  John  Davis;  Mary  Estella,  married  Harry  Stewart,  of  Pitts- 
burgh. 4.  Andrew,  unmarried,  lives  in  Economy  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania.  5.  George,  died  from  disease  contracted  in  the  service  in 
the  Civil  War,  served  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-first  Pennsylvania 
Infantry.  6.  Elizabeth,  lives  unmarried  in  Economy  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  7.  Catherine,  of  previous  mention,  married  Michael 
McGuire.  Children  of  Michael  and  Catherine  (Moore)  McGuire:  i. 
Ellen,  married  Gilbert  Foran ;  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  the  mother 
of  Francis,  Charles  and  Lawrence.  2.  Delia,  married  George  H.  Davis; 
lives  in  Leetsdale,  Pennsylvania;  they  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  James, 
aged  four  years.  3.  Charles,  married  Jennie  Irwin;  lives  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania,  the  father  of  one  daughter,  Catherine,  aged  six  years.  4. 
John  M.,  married  Gertrude  Styelinger,  deceased;  she  lives  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania.  5.  Mary,  married  William  Hemmerle;  lives  in  Pittsburgh. 
6.  Leo,  married  Ellen  Kratzler;  she  is  deceased.  7.  Grace,  lives  at  home. 
8.  Clair,  lives  at  home. 


The  part  that  German  settlers  have  played  in  Beaver 
HAMMERLE    county  does  not  differ  materially  from  that  which  those 

of  that  nationality  have  to  their  credit  in  other  regions 
of  this  country,  that  of  a  sober,  intelligent,  industrious  people,  who,  es- 
tablishing institutions  and  precedents  as  the  needs  of  their  communities 
called  for  them,  built  them  after  their  own  personalities,  weaving  into  them 
the  elements  of  firmness  and  substantiality  that  make  for  permanence  and 
endurance.  Among  the  many  families  that  Germany  has  given  to  the 
United  States,  and  among  the  large  number  that  have  made  Pennsylvania 


6io  PENNSYLVANIA 

their  home,  is  that  of  Hammerle,  estabHshed  in  the  United  States  by  John 
Hammerle  in  1853. 

(I)  John  Hammerle  was  a  resident  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
for  twenty  years  prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1873,  when  he  was 
eighty-four  years  of  age.  These  two  decades  had  been  spent  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  John  Hammerle  having  been  a  son  of  the  soil  in  the 
Fatherland.  There  is  in  the  possession  of  John  (3)  Hammerle,  grandson 
of  John  (i)  Hammerle,  the  emigrant,  an  old  trunk  in  which  the  first 
John  carried  all  of  his  worldly  goods  when  he  made  the  voyage  from  his 
native  country  to  the  United  States  in  1853.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  then  known  as  the  German  Reformed,  as  was 
his  wife,  and  reared  his  children  in  that  faith.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Kuckenberger,  her  death  taking  place  in  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  the  parents  of :  Leonard,  resident  of  Monroe,  New  York ;  Rudolph, 
deceased;  Lizzie,  lives  unmarried  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania;  Catherine, 

married    (first)    a   Mr.    Thomas,    (second)    Zinkham,   and    lives   in 

Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania;  John,  of  whom  further. 

(H)  John  (2)  Hammerle,  son  of  John  (i)  Hammerle,  was  bom  in 
Baden,  Germany,  in  1832,  died  in  Economy  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  15,  1906.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  Germany,  and  he 
was  there  educated  in  the  schools  for  which  that  land  is  justly  famous, 
coming  to  the  United  States  with  his  father  in  the  year  that  he  attained 
his  majority.  After  his  arrival  he  was  for  a  time  employed  in  Pitts- 
burgh, later  entering  the  agricultural  field,  in  which  he  remained  until  his 
death,  meeting  with  good  success  and  becoming  one  of  the  farmers  of  the 
region  whose  undertakings  were  universally  prosperous.  In  1862  he  en- 
listed in  the  Union  army  and  served  for  a  term  of  nine  months,  at  the  end 
of  that  time  returning  to  the  cultivation  of  his  acres.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
political  sympathies  and  for  three  years  served  the  township  as  school 
director.  For  many  years  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  his 
wife  holding  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  her  later  years. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Shaffer,  born  in  New  Sewickley  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  who  died  in  Freedom,  Pennsylvania,  October  21, 
1912,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Casper  Shaffer, 
a  farmer  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  in  1878.  Chil- 
dren of  Casper  Shaffer:     i.  Elizabeth,  of  previous  mention,  married  John 

(2)  Hammerle.     2.  John,  married  Gudemoth,  and  lives  in  Unionville. 

New  Sewickjey  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  they  are  the 
parents  of:  Callie,  married  Jacob  Shaney,  and  lives  in  Unionville,  Penn- 
sylvania; Nicholas,  married,  and  lives  in  New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania; 
Emma,  married  Frank  Acher,  and  lives  in  Freedom,  Pennsylvania ;  Henry, 
married  Louisa  Graham,  and  lives  in  Monaca,  Pennsylvania ;  Joseph,  mar- 
ried, and  lives  with  his  parents;  Walter,  unmarried,  lives  at  Ambridge, 
Pennsylvania;  Harry,  unmarried,  lives  at  Freedom,  Pennsylvania;  Mary, 
lives   at   home.      3.    Henry,   married    Barbara    Eckhart,    and    lives    on    the 


BEAVER    COUNTY  6ii 

old  homestead  in  New  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania; 
they  are  the  parents  of  several  children.  4.  Eve,  married  John  Knoupfe, 
and  lives  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  mother  of  four  children.  5. 
Mary,  married  Adam  Fleener,  and  lives  in  Dougherty  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  the  mother  of  several  children.  Children  of  John 
(2)  and  Elizabeth  (Shaffer)  Hammerle:  i.  Pauhna,  died  aged  twelve 
years.  2.  John  (3),  of  whom  further.  3.  Benjamin,  deceased.  4.  Oiarles, 
married  Carrie  Kemer,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  the  father  of  two  sons, 
Elmer,  married  Lizzie  Berry,  and  Harry.  5.  Henry,  married  Jennie  Fuller- 
ton,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  the  father  of  two  children,  Claire  and  Cora, 
both  married.  6.  Joseph,  married  Mary  Shirk,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania,  the  father  of  two  children,  Norman  and  Maria,  aged  sixteen 
and  nine  years,  respectively.  7.  George,  married  Ida  Miller,  and  lives  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  the  father  of  two  daughters,  Esther,  aged  nine, 
and  Mildred,  aged  six  years.  8.  Mary,  died  aged  twelve  years.  9.  Eliza- 
beth, married  W.  E.  McElheny,  and  lives  in  Conway,  Pennsylvania;  they 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Walter  and  David,  aged  fourteen  and 
twelve  years,  respectively.  10.  William,  married  Emma  Gross,  deceased; 
lives  in  Freedom,  Pennsylvania,  the  father  of  three  children,  Lenhardt, 
aged  eleven  years,  Blanche,  aged  nine  years,  Helda,  aged  seven  years. 

(HI)  John  (3)  Hammerle,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Elizabeth  (Shaffer) 
Hammerle,  was  born  in  New  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  9,  1859.  His  early  years  were  spent  in  Economy  township, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools,  working  on  his  father's  farm  until 
189 1,  when  he  purchased  eighty-one  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  since  cul- 
tivated with  excellent  success,  both  from  a  financial  standpoint  and  the 
agriculturist's  point  of  view.  He  specializes  in  no  one  branch,  all  of  his 
operations  being  general  in  character  and  varied  to  suit  the  seasons.  Bus- 
iness has  claimed  part  of  Mr.  Hammerle's  time,  his  name  appearing  as  a 
director  and  appraiser  of  the  Wall  Rose  Fire  Insurance  Company  and  as  a 
stockholder  in  the  People's  Telephone  Company.  Politically  he  is  strongly 
partisan,  giving  the  Democratic  party  his  full  support,  having  held  the 
office  of  road  supervisor  for  two  years  and  that  of  school  director  for  five 
years.  The  latter  position  he  still  fills  and  has  been  a  strong  worker  for 
the  cause  of  education  in  the  township.  For  three  years  he  was  also  one 
of  the  township  election  board.  Nor  does  his  field  of  activity  meet  its 
boundary  at  that  point,  but  extends  to  the  offices  of  trustee,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  his  ecclesiastical  duties  receiving 
the  same  thorough  care  that  characterizes  his  actions  in  any  branch  of 
service,  be  it  private,  public  or  business.  His  wife  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Hammerle  married,  December  29,  1881,  Sadie  Filbert,  born  in 
New  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  26,  i860, 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Jennie  (Bass)  Filbert.  Edward  Filbert  was  born 
in  Germany,  and  was  a   farmer  both   in  that  country  and  in   the   United 


6i2  PENNSYLVANIA 

States,  his  death  occurring  in  Pennsylvania.  Children  of  Edward  Filbert: 
I.  John,  deceased.  2.  Maggie,  deceased;  married  L.  Dunbar.  3.  William, 
married,  and  lives  in  Freedom,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Edward,  married  Mary 
Peirsol,  and  lives  in  Freedom,  Pennsylvania;  they  are  the  parents  of  five 
children,  among  them  George,  Jennie,  Vera,  the  latter  two  married,  Jennie 
to  a  Mr.  Russell,  Vera  to  a  Mr.  Kelly.  5.  Hannah,  married  George 
Lawyer,  and  lives  in  Wilkinsburg,  Pennsylvania;  children:  Frank,  Edward, 
Harvey,  Jennie,  George,  Annie;  all  are  married  with  the  exception  of 
Annie,  who  lives  at  home,  Jennie's  husband  being  David  Livingstone.  6. 
Sadie,  of  previous  mention,  married  John  (3)  Hammerle.  7.  David,  mar- 
ried and  has  several  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Filbert  were  also  the  parents 
of  two  children  who  died  young.  Children  of  John  (3)  and  Sadie  (Filbert) 
Hammerle:  i.  William,  mariied  Mary  McGuire,  and  lives  at  Homewood, 
Pennsylvania.  2.  David,  lives  at  home.  3.  Ralph,  lives  in  Pittsburgh.  4. 
Howard,  lives  at  home.  5.  Mary,  attending  school.  6.  Hazel,  attending 
school. 


The  name  of  Merkel  is  no  uncommon  one  in  this  country, 
MERKEL  and  we  find  that  bearers  of  it  have  come  from  various  sec- 
tions of  Germany.  The  family  here  under  discussion  came 
from  Hessen  Darmstadt,  Germany.  Two  brothers  and  two  sisters  of  this 
family  came  to  this  country:  Justus,  see  forward;  Washington,  a  resident 
of  Richmond,  Virginia;  Margaret,  who  married  a  Mr.  Vollhardt,  of  Wells- 
burg,  West  Virginia ;  Helena  Fisher,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey ;  and  Henry, 
a  brother  of  the  above  mentioned,  remained  in  Hessen  Darmstadt,  but 
his  son  Henry  is  a  resident  of  Newark,  New  Jersey. 

Justus  Merkel  was  born  at  Hessen  Darmstadt,  Germany,  May  3,  1824, 
died  in  Monaca,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  20,  1907.  His  father 
was  Henry  Merkel,  who  lived  and  died  in  Germany.  Justus  Merkel  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  country,  and  was  there  apprenticed 
to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  in  which  he  was  very  successful.  He 
emigrated  to  America  in  1847,  landing  at  Philadelphia  from  whence  he 
migrated  to  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  About  the  year  1850  he  removed 
to  Monaca,  Beaver  county,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent. 
Throughout  the  years  of  his  residence  in  America  he  followed  the  calling 
with  which  he  had  been  identified  in  his  native  land.  Being  frugal  and 
industrious,  and  possessed  of  much  natural  business  acumen,  he  amassed 
a  considerable  fortune.  He  acquired  a  large  amount  of  real  estate,  por- 
tions of  which  he  sold  very  advantageously  from  time  to  time,  re-invest- 
ing the  profits  of  his  sales.  During  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Merkel  was  a  par- 
ticipant in  the  struggle  while  plying  his  trade.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Merkel  married  (first)  Margaret  Mateer,  and  by  this  marriage 
had  no  children.  He  married  (second)  1895,  Marie  Elstner,  born  in 
Germany,  July  24,  1870,  daughter  of  John  and  Agatha  (Palmer)  Elstner, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  613 

the  former  of  whom  died  in  Germany  about  1876,  the  latter  came  to 
Monaca,  Beaver  county,  1893,  died  there,  June  4,  1907.  They  had  chil- 
dren: Theodore,  of  Charleroi;  Richard,  of  Monaca;  Marie,  who  married 
Mr.  Merkel.  Justus  and  Marie  (Elstner)  Merkel  had  children:  Flora, 
born  April  16,  1896,  married,  November  28,  1912,  Marshall  Finn,  of 
Monaca;  Marie,  born  August  24,  1897;  Ida,  born  October  19,  1898;  Justus, 
born  June  30,  1902. 


Annie  Higby,  mother  of  William  F.  Higby,  was  the  daughter 
HIGBY  of  Dr.  Charles  and  Margaret  (McKenna)  Higby,  her  father 
a  native  of  Massachusetts.  They  were  for  a  time  residents  of 
Pittsburgh,  later  moving  to  Tennessee,  and  finally  settling  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Charles  Higby  was  a  physician  by  profession  and 
was  said  to  have  been  the  first  doctor  of  the  homoeopathic  school  in  Beaver 
county.  They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Children  of 
Charles  and  Margaret  (McKenna)  Higby:  Charles,  a  farmer,  died  in 
McLoud,  Oklahoma;  Maggie,  married  Dr.  Pyburn,  and  died  in  Greeley, 
Colorado;  Annie,  of  previous  mention,  born  at  Brownstown,  near  Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania,  July  4,  1835. 

William  Franklin  Higby  was  born  in  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  24,  1863.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  New 
Brighton,  completing  his  education  and  studies  at  Smart's  Business  College, 
in  Beaver  Falls,  whence  he  was  graduated  in  r886.  Possessing  the  quality 
of  adapting  himself  to  all  circumstances  and  with  no  obsessing  preferences 
as  to  a  career,  he  spent  several  years  in  diflFerent  positions,  giving  every 
likely  opening  a  fair  trial,  without  finding  an  occupation  particularly  to 
his  liking,  although  there  were  among  those  he  followed  for  a  time  many 
capable  of  yielding  him  a  livelihood.  Inheriting  a  farm  upon  his  mother's 
death,  he  began  to  cultivate  it,  and  in  this  occupation  found  his  true 
calling.  Since  that  time  he  has  also  acquired  the  Mitchell  farm,  which 
adjoins  his  property,  making  a  tract  of  about  eighty  acres.  In  addition 
to  the  general  farming  operations  he  conducts,  he  raises  Jersey  cattle,  and 
among  his  herd  are  none  but  those  of  the  purest  blood,  every  one  a  thor- 
oughbred, and  because  of  the  scientific  care  and  treatment  they  receive, 
his  stock  sells  at  a  marked  advance  above  the  market  price.  For  the  ac- 
commodation of  his  animals  Mr.  Higby  erected,  in  1912,  a  spacious  barn, 
built  not  for  their  mere  shelter,  but  for  comfort  during  the  seasons  in  which 
they  cannot  graze  at  will.  Besides  the  farm  on  which  he  lives,  Mr.  Higby 
is  the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate  in  Rochester  township  and  the 
borough  of  New  Brighton,  including  seven  houses.  A  Republican  in 
politics,  he  has  several  times  been  the  choice  of  his  neighbors  for  local 
offices  and  has  in  each  case  gladly  given  of  his  time  and  service  for  the 
public  good,  holding  the  offices  of  supervisor,  school  director  and  township 
auditor. 

He  married,  September  29,  1885,  Jennie  Harland,  a  native  of  Beaver 


6i4  PENNSYLVANIA 

county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Harland,  deceased.  Children: 
I.  Edward,  died  in  infancy.  2.  Hazel,  lives  at  home.  3.  May,  married 
Lotus  Radcliff,  and  lives  in  Rochester  township;  they  are  the  parents  of 
one  daughter,  Lena.  4.  Henry,  deceased.  5.  Charles,  at  home.  6.  John, 
at  home.     7.  Benjamin,  died  in  infancy. 


James  Louthan,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  came  to 
LOUTHAN  America  not  long  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  settled  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  when  that 
section  of  the  state  was  a  complete  wilderness,  and  bravely  endured  the 
hardships  which  the  hardy  pioneers  were  called  upon  to  combat.  He  soon 
removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  about  one 
hundred  acres  on  Apple  creek,  and  had  cleared  a  portion  of  this  when  an 
attack  of  pneumonia  caused  his  early  death.  His  widow  sold  the  farm  as 
advantageously  as  possible,  and  then  with  her  young  children  returned  to 
Beaver  county.  She  settled  on  the  farm  on  which  her  grandson,  John  Reed 
Louthan,  now  lives.  Later  she  removed  to  Darlington,  Pennsylvania,  where 
her  death  occurred.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Louthan  in  Scotland,  and 
they  had  children:  Moses,  who  died  at  New  Water  ford,  Ohio;  Sarah,- 
married  Hugh  Sebring,  moved  to  Clay  county,  Indiana,  and  there  died; 
Susan,  married  Samuel  McConnell,  and  died  while  with  her  sister  Eliza 
at  Darlington;  Eliza,  died  unmarried  at  Darlington;  James,  see  forward. 

(II)  James  (2)  Louthan,  son  of  James  (i)  Louthan,  was  born  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  April  8,  1817,  and  was  a  very  young  child  when 
his  widowed  mother  returned  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  reared.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  was  employed  in  various 
places  until  he  purchased  a  farm  of  seventy-two  acres  in  South  Beaver 
township.  He  sold  this  to  his  son-in-law,  James  Patterson,  in  1878  and 
after  the  death  of  his  wife  lived  with  his  children  in  Indiana,  Missouri  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  part  of  the  time  with  his  sisters  in  Darlington.  After 
the  death  of  his  sisters  he  made  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Craig, 
in  Beaver  Falls,  and  died  there,  March  6,  1900.  He  was  a  Republican  and 
very  active  in  local  matters.  His  religious  allegiance  was  with  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  held  the  office  of  trustee.  Mr.  Louthan 
married,  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Nancy  Strain,  born  in  Chippewa 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  February,  1817,  died  in  1878.- 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  the  early  settle- 
ment days,  and  made  their  home  in  Chippewa  township.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  purchased  the  land  on  which  J.  F.  Naugle  now  lives.  They  had  chil- 
dren: James,  who  moved  to  Iowa  and  died  there;  Mary,  married  Noble 
Rayl,  and  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  Rebecca,  married  James 
Hamilton,  and  died  in  Iowa;  Margaret,  married  Robert  Bradshaw,  and 
died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania ;  Nancy,  married  James  Louthan,  see 
above;  Lydia,  married  Smiley  Rhodes,  and  died  in  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania.    James  and  Nancy  (Strain)  Louthan  had  children:     Mary  Ann, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  615 

widow  of  John  Craig,  lives  in  Beaver  Falls;  Esther,  married  (first)  James 
Martin,  (second)  Samuel  McClure,  lives  in  Florida;  Susan,  married  James 
Hartzell,  lives  in  Missouri;  Rebecca,  married  Bradford  Rayl,  lives  in  Beaver 
Falls;  Elizabeth,  married  Fernando  Cox,  lives  in  Marshall  county,  Indiana; 
Bradford,  a  pottery  manufacturer,  lives  in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio;  Alice, 
married  Thomas  Bradshaw,  and  lives  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania;  James,  a  physician,  lives  in  Beaver  Falls;  Nancy, 
married  James  Patterson,  lives  in  Beaver  Falls;  John  Reed,  see  forward. 

(Ill)  John  Reed  Louthan,  son  of  James  (2)  and  Nancy  (Strain) 
Louthan,  was  born  in  Darlington,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  19, 
1858.  The  public  schools  furnished  him  with  an  excellent  education  for  that 
time,  and  his  early  years  were  spent  entirely  on  the  homestead  farm.  He 
then  worked  for  a  time  in  a  planing  mill,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in 
business  as  a  huckster  for  about  six  years.  Removing  to  Lawrence  county, 
Pennsylvania,  he  rented  a  farm  and  in  addition  to  this  continued  the  hucks- 
tering business,  which  he  had  established  on  a  paying  basis.  In  1896  he 
had  become  prosperous  enough  to  purchase  the  old  family  homestead  on 
which  he  had  been  born,  and  has  since  that  time  resided  there.  He  has 
completely  remodeled  the  house,  making  it  one  of  modern  conveniences, 
has  made  additions  to  the  barn,  and  added  many  improvements  to  the 
place  in  general.  He  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  pays  considerable 
attention  to  dairy  farming,  having  a  fine  herd  of  six  selected  cows.  On  the 
farm  there  are  also  two  gas  and  oil  wells,  one  of  them  still  yielding  a 
barrel  per  day.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  which  he  holds  office  as  a  trustee,  and  he  is  also  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath  school. 

Mr.  Louthan  married,  in  September,  1880,  Elizabeth  Rhodes,  born  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Jane  Rhodes. 
They  have  had  children  as  follows:  George  W.,  lives  in  Chippewa  town- 
ship, Beaver  county,  married  Laura  Haley,  and  has  two  children,  Ruth 
and  Charles;  Mary  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years;  James  L.,  unmarried, 
lives  with  his  parents;  Erma,  resides  with  her  parents;  she  attended  the 
Slippery  Rock  Normal  School  and  Geneva  College,  and  is  now  a  school 
teacher  in  the  home  district. 


The  name  of  Wise  is  one  which  has  been  familiar  in  America 
WISE     for  many  generations.     For  many  years  the    family  belonged 

to  what  was  known  as  the  "Pennsylvania  Dutch,"  but  it  is  but 
natural  to  assume  that  the  earliest  bearers  of  this  name  came  to  America 
from  Germany,  where  the  name  is  spelled  Weis  and  Weiss.  They  brought 
to  this  country  the  distinguishing  traits  of  thrift  and  industry  which  are 
so  characteristic  of  the  German  race,  and  these  have  been  transmitted 
to   their   descendants. 

(I)  Wise  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 

he  was  occupied  as  a  farmer.  He  married  there,  his  wife  being  also  a 


6i6  PENNSYLVANIA 

native  of  Montgomery  county,  and  also  a  descendant  of  an  old  family  of 
the  state,  and  they  belonged  to  the  Mennonite  sect.  They  had  children: 
Jacob,  who  went  to  Western  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Butler  county; 
Samuel;  George,  Henry;  Killian;  John  L.,  see  forward;  two  daughters. 

(II)  John  L.  Wise,  son  of  the  preceding  Wise,  was  born  in 

Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1790,  died  in  1855.  Abraham  Zigler, 
an  early  settler,  had  purchased  one  thousand  acres  of  land  belonging  to  the 
Economites,  and  these  he  was  selling  in  smaller  parcels.  From  him  Mr. 
Wise  bought  one  hundred  acres  in  Franklin  township,  and  resided  there 
until  his  death.  He  was  also  a  weaver  by  trade,  and  when  his  sons  were 
old  enough  to  perform  the  labors  of  the  farm,  Mr.  Wise  left  them  to  manage 
the  farm  alone  while  he  devoted  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  weaving 
business.  Mr.  Wise  married  Mary  Funk,  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1796,  died  about  1876.  Her  parents  were  also  Mennonites  and 
Pennsylvania  Dutch,  and  lived  and  died  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania. 
About  the  year  1830  he  with  his  entire  family  traveled  across  the  mountains 
by  wagon,  to  make  their  home  in  Butler  county,  where  they  settled  at 
Jackson  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  had  children:  Jacob,  a  farmer 
in  Jackson  township,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania;  John,  now  dead,  lived 
on  the  homestead  farm;  Killian,  who  was  a  farmer,  died  in  Quincy  county, 
Illinois;  Henry,  died  young;  Samuel  F.,  see  forward;  Catherine,  married 
Moses  Shuntz,  and  lived  in  Jackson  township;  Sarah,  died  unmarried  at 
the  age  of  twenty  years;  Mary,  married  Henry  Moyer,  and  lived  in  Har- 
mony ;  Hannah,  married  John  Y.  Zigler,  both  deceased. 

(III)  Samuel  F.  Wise,  son  of  John  L.  and  Mary  (Funk)  Wise,  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  27,  183 1. 
During  the  winter  months  he  attended  the  public  schools  of  Franklin  town- 
ship three  months,  and  was  obliged  to  assist  his  father  to  the  extent  of  his 
strength  at  an  early  age.  He  remained  on  the  homestead  farm  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  then  married,  and  for  the  next  seven  years  lived  on 
land  which  he  rented  from  his  father-in-law.  He  then  bought  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  to  which  he  added  another  thirty  acres  subsequently.  In 
1859  he  built  the  house  of  red  brick  and  had  this  finished  in  a  very  excel- 
lent manner.  For  more  than  half  a  century  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
in  the  same  place  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  operations.  In  politi- 
cal matters  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Emmanuel  Church,  although  formerly  they  were  members  of  the  Mennonite 
Church.  Mr.  Wise  married,  in  1851,  Nancy  Zigler,  born  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1830,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary 
(Youter)  Zigler,  and  granddaughter  of  Abraham  Zigler.  who  is  mentioned 
above  as  having  purchased  one  thousand  acres  of  land  from  the  Economites. 
They  probably  all  came  from  Montgomery  county.  Andrew  Zigler  in- 
herited about  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  original  tract,  and  was 
always  a  farmer.  They  were  public  spirited  and  liberal  people,  and  the 
Mennonite  Church  in  Harmony  was  erected  in  1804  by  Abraham  Zigler. 


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BEAVER    COUNTY  617 

Andrew  and  Mary  (Youter)  Zigler  had  children:  John  Y.,  lived  in  Frank- 
lin township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  Andrew,  was  killed  at  Gettys- 
burg; Jacob,  lives  in  Ogle;  Elizabeth,  married  Henry  Beyer;  Nancy,  men- 
tioned above ;  Kate,  married  John  Peffer ;  Caroline,  married  Samuel  Shearer, 
and  is  living  in  New  Springfield,  Ohio.  Samuel  F.  and  Nancy  (Zigler) 
Wise  have  had  children:  i.  Abraham,  born  November  15,  1851,  married 
Amelia  Goehring;  lives  in  Daugherty  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 2.  Samuel,  lives  in  Daugherty  township.  3.  John,  was  a  dentist  in 
North  Carolina,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years.  4.  Ezra,  lives  in 
New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Alpheus,  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years.  6.  Mary,  deceased;  married  Henry  Brenner;  lived  in 
New  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  7.  Caroline,  de- 
ceased; married  George  Rosenberger.  8.  Emma,  unmarried,  lives  with 
her  parents.  9.  Annie,  married  John  Schramm ;  lives  in  Marion  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  10.  Nettie,  married  Frank  S.  Martsolf ;  lives 
in  Detroit,   Michigan. 


The  name  of  Dougherty  has  been  well  and  favor- 
DOUGHERTY  ably  known  for  many  years  in  the  industrial  and  finan- 
cial world,  especially  in  connection  with  the  steel  in- 
dustry. As  its  form  indicates,  the  family  originally  came  from  Ireland, 
and  they  brought  with  them  and  transmitted  to  their  descendants  those 
habits  of  thrift,  honesty  and  industry  which  are  so  characteristic  of  the 
Irish  people. 

(I)  James  Dougherty  was  a  resident  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and 
married  Margaret  Gwynne,  of  the  same  city.  They  became  the  parents 
of  John  Webster,  see  forward,  and  Catherine,  who  is  unmarried. 

(II)  John  Webster  Dougherty,  son  of  James  and  Margaret  (Gwynne) 
Dougherty,  was  bom  in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  For  a  time  he  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Boston,  Massachusetts;  the  family  later  removed  to 
Stockton,  where  James  Dougherty  became  one  of  the  superintendents  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Works,  and  there  John  W.  attended  the  public  schools 
and  graduated  in  the  first  class  that  graduated  from  that  school  and  was 
first  in  the  class;  he  then  became  a  student  at  the  Bethlehem  Preparatory 
School,  from  whence  he  went  to  the  Lehigh  University,  and  was  graduated 
from  this  institution  with  honor.  Even  in  his  early  boyhood  he  had  shown  a 
decided  inclination  for  industrial  pursuits,  and  his  college  vacations  were 
spent  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works.  Immediately  after 
his  graduation  he  made  a  more  permanent  connection  with  this  corpora- 
tion, which  was  of  the  greatest  benefit  to  it.  When  he  commenced  work- 
ing for  this  company  it  was  in  the  open  hearth  department,  and  from 
this  he  was  advanced  to  a  position  of  responsibility  in  the  blast  furnace. 
By  successive  gradations  he  ultimately  advanced  to  the  position  of  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works,  an  office  with  which  he  was 
successfully  identified  until  March  i,  191 1.     The  most  trying  times  in  the 


6i8  PENNSYLVANIA 

history  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works  occurred  during  the  incumbency 
of  Mr.  Dougherty,  and  it  is  greatly  to  his  credit  that  his  efficient  manage- 
ment enabled  the  company  to  weather  all  difficulties.  He  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  interests  of  a  number  of  other  corporations  in  official  and 
other  capacity,  a  partial  list  being  as  follows:  Vice-president  of  the 
Crucible  Steel  Works  of  America,  at  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania;  president 
of  the  Pittsburgh  Crucible  Steel  Works  at  Midland,  Pennsylvania;  presi- 
dent of  the  Midland  Trust  Company;  president  of  the  Midland  Water 
Works;  president  of  the  Crucible  Coal  Company;  and  a  director  in  the 
Beaver  National  Bank.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  mention  that  in  the  history 
of  steel  making  the  Pittsburgh  Crucible  Steel  Works  at  Midland,  Penn- 
sylvania, is  the  only  one  known  to  have  made  perfect  steel  the  first  output. 
Mr.  Dougherty  married  Caroline,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Catherine 
(Peters)  McNiflf,  and  a  sister  of  Catherine  McNiflf  and  of  Gilbert  McNiflf, 
the  latter  of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dougherty  have  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  Margaret  Ruth,  a  student  at  Eden  Hall ;  Marie  Catherine, 
attends  Beaver  College;  James  G. ;  John  Webster  Jr.  The  family  resides 
in  a  fine  residence  in  Beaver,  which  is  the  home  of  hospitality  and  good 
cheer.  Naturally  of  a  social  and  kindly  disposition,  Mr.  Dougherty  has 
made  many  friends  in  private  as  well  as  in  business  life.  His  mind  is 
carefully  disciplined  and  analytical,  and  his  deep  perception  and  quick 
and  lively  sympathy  make  him  a  power  in  his  field  of  labor.  He  is  unosten- 
tatious in  his  charities  and  it  aflfords  him  pleasure  to  assist  his  fellowmen. 


Sweden  is  the  country  to  which  the  Freed  family,  of  Pennsyl- 
FREED     vania,  is  traced.     The  emigrant  ancestor,  upon  coming  to  the 

United  States  from  his  native  land,  made  settlement  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  Bucks  county,  that  state,  was  born  John  Freed,  with  whom 
this  record  begins. 

(I)  John  Freed  left  the  county  of  his  birth  about  1792,  and  came  to 
Beaver  county,  making  his  first  home  in  that  locality  in  North  Sewickley 
township,  later  purchasing  four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Big  Beaver  town- 
ship. The  country  at  that  time  was  an  undisturbed  wilderness  and  John 
Freed's  struggle  with  the  forces  of  nature  was  that  of  all  the  settlers  of 
that  day,  stern,  unceasing,  and  fraught  with  danger.  He  married  a  Miss 
Funkhouser  before  his  departure  from  Bucks  county,  she  a  native  of  that 
section,  and  had  children,  among  them  Abraham. 

(II)  Abraham  Freed,  son  of  John  and (Funkhouser)  Freed,  was 

born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  died  in  1879,  aged  eighty- 
five  years.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  his  father's  home,  where  he  per- 
formed the  duties  usually  falling  to  the  lot  of  the  juvenile  members  of  a 
farmer's  family,  attending  the  public  schools  when  sessions  were  held  and 
he  could  be  spared  from  home  labor.  When  of  suitable  age  he  was  given  the 
tract  of  land  known  as  the  old  meadow  on  the  Freed  farm.  He  had 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  devoted  a  part  of  his  time  to  this  trade, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  619 

and  several  of  his  tools  are  still  in  the  possession  of  his  grandson,  William 
A.  Freed.  He  cleared  the  tract  by  his  own  efforts  and  thereon  erected  a 
log  cabin,  which  has  long  since  disappeared  before  the  ravages  of  time. 
When  this  had  outlasted  its  usefulness  he  built  another  house,  more  sub- 
stantial and  attractive  than  the  first,  because  he  had  so  well  employed  the 
intervening  time  that  affairs  on  his  farm  were  in  smooth  working  older 
and  he  was  able  to  devote  more  time  and  attention  to  its  construction. 
Here  he  lived  an  active  and  busy  life,  characterized  by  unflagging  industry, 
and  reared  a  large  family,  through  whom  his  name  and  virtues  are  pre- 
served to  the  present  day.  He  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  this  faith  his  children  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood.  He  married  Susan  Showalter,  and  had  issue:  i.  John  W., 
of  whom  further.  2.  William  S.,  a  farmer,  died  on  his  property  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Jonathan,  a  resident  of  Michigan,  died  there  at 
the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  the  same  advanced  age  at  which  his  father's 
death  occurred.  4.  James  Wilson,  lived  near  Unity,  Ohio,  until  his  death, 
February,  1914.  5.  Nancy,  married  Lewis  Sager,  and  died  in  Michigan. 
6.  Elizabeth,  died  unmarried  at  an  advanced  age.  7.  Lucinda,  married 
Samuel  E.  Barnes  Jr.,  and  died  on  the  Barnes  homestead,  their  home,  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  8.  Kate,  married  John  Johnson,  and  died  in 
Enon  Valley,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  9.  Mary,  married  Isaac 
Funkhouser,  both  are  deceased. 

(HI)  John  W.  Freed,  eldest  child  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (Showalter) 
Freed,  was  bom  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1819,  died  in  the  same  locality,  January  10,  1906.  He  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  home  farm,  attended  the  local  schools,  and  at  his  father's 
death  inherited  the  homestead,  containing  then  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  His  wife  was  also  the  possessor  of  land  to  the  extent  of 
some  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres,  so  that  in  all  they  owned  well  over 
two  hundred  acres.  This  he  farmed,  and  in  1862  erected  a  stone  dwelling, 
a  part  of  which  is  still  standing,  the  building  having  fallen  into  disuse  and 
subsequent  decay.  Here  he  lived  until  his  death.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  although  never  seeking  or  holding  public  office.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  and  Annie  (Craig)  Johnston.  She  sur- 
vives him  to  the  present  time  (1913)  daily  enjoying  health  and  happiness. 
She  is  of  Irish  blood,  her  parents  bom  in  Ireland,  which  country  was  also 
the  birthplace  of  their  three  eldest  children.  Upon  coming  to  the  United 
States  they  made  their  home  in  Pennsylvania,  on  Little  Beaver  creek, 
P.eaver  county,  near  the  town  of  New  Galilee.  This  state  was  ever  their 
home,  although  after  a  short  time  spent  in  Beaver  county  they  moved  to  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres  near  Enon  Valley,  Lawrence  county. 
This  was  their  residence  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  both  being 
called  to  rest  about  1864.  In  both  of  the  regions  in  which  he  had  lived 
during  his  life  in  America  William  Johnston  took  prominent  part  in  all 
public  affairs,  the  novelty  of  organizing  and  maintaining  government  and 


620  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  making  laws  appealing  strongly  to  him,  this  being  a  form  of  activity  in 
which  people  of  ordinary  station  had  little  opportunity  to  indulge  in  the 
country  from  which  he  came.  In  church  attendance  he  was  regular,  and 
in  his  worship  devout.  William  and  Annie  (Craig)  Johnston  were  the 
parents  of:  i.  James,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  in  the  Civil  War.  2. 
William,  a  carpenter,  died  at  Jeflfersonville,  Indiana,  where  he  had 
gone  in  the  pursuit  of  his  trade.  3.  Hugh,  a  farmer,  lives  near  Appleton 
City,  Missouri.  4.  John  died  in  Warrensburg,  Missouri.  5.  Ann  mar- 
ried Hugh  Steen,  and  died  in  Newcastle,  Pennsylvania.  6.  Mary,  married 
a  Mr.  Crumm,  and  died  in  Homewood,  Pennsylvania.  7.  Margaret,  mar- 
ried Robert  Dalzell,  and  died  in  the  Northwest,  probably  in  Oregon.  8. 
Elizabeth,  of  previous  mention,  married  John  W.  Freed.  Children  of 
John  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Johnston)  Freed:  William  Abraham,  of  whom 
further;  Andrew  Johnston. 

(IV)  William  Abraham  Freed,  eldest  of  the  two  sons  of  John  W. 
and  Elizabeth  (Johnston)  Freed,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  17,  i860.  He  attended  the  public  schools,  later  Peirsol's 
Academy,  completing  his  studies  at  Geneva  College.  After  leaving  school 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  took  up  the  management  of  the  home  farm, 
which  he  later  inherited,  the  tract  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  acres.  Twenty  acres  of  this  is  planted  in  fruit  trees,  and  from  this 
source  he  realizes  a  profitable  revenue,  and  also  raises  garden  truck  in 
large  quantities,  for  which  he  has  a  large  and  steady  demand.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Beaver  County  Agricultural  Association,  of  which  he 
has  been  a  director.  Aside  from  his  farming  operations  he  concerns  him- 
self to  some  extent  with  other  business,  having  previously  a  place  upon 
the  directorate  of  the  Federal  Title  and  Trust  Company,  a  position  he  held 
since  the  organization  of  that  institution  until  191 1,  and  is  president  of 
the  Beaver  County  Triumph  Mutual  Insurance  Company.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  political  belief,  and  for  the  three  years  from  1897  to  1900  served 
the  county  in  the  capacity  of  commissioner.  He  belongs  to  Beaver  Valley 
Lodge,  No.  478,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Beaver  Falls  Chapter,  Royal 
Arch  Masons;  and  Beaver  Falls  Commandery,  Knights  Templar.  Mr. 
Freed  is  known  throughout  the  locality  in  which  he  lives  as  a  successful 
and  prosperous  farmer,  a  business  man  of  ability  and  a  neighbor  of  straight- 
forward, honorable  principles. 

He  married,  March  11,  1885,  Mary  F.  Hudson,  born  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Ann  (Fry)  Hudson,  born 
February  12,  1864.  Robert  Hudson  was  a  son  of  Richard  D.  and  Beth- 
sheba  (Stockman)  Hudson.  Richard  and  his  wife  were  early  residents  of 
Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  a  farmer  and  surveyor, 
doing  much  of  the  surveying  for  the  first  farms  in  that  locality.  He  there 
died,  his  wife  surviving  him  several  years,  her  death  occurring  in  New 
Galilee,  Pennsylvania.  Children  of  Richard  D.  and  Bethsheba  (Stockman) 
Hudson:     i.  Stockman.     2.  Amanda,  married  H.  J.  Marshall.  3.  Richard. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  621 

4.  Mary  Jane,  married  David  Knowles.  5.  Bethsheba,  married  Hamilton 
Bannon.  6.  Eliza,  married  Robert  McDowell,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania. 7.  William,  lives  in  Sacramento  Valley,  California.  8.  Isaac, 
died  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  9.  Robert,  of  further  mention.  Robert  Hudson 
was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  after  his  marriage  lived 
successively  at  Wampum,  Hoytdale  and  New  Galilee.  He  entered  the 
mercantile  business,  was  rewarded  with  a  large  share  of  success,  and  is 
now  living  retired  at  Evans  City,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  with  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  married  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Katherine  (Maloney)  Fry.  Both  were  residents  of  Big  Beaver  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  owned  a  small  farm.  Michael 
Fry  was  of  German  descent,  the  parents  of  his  wife  coming  from  the  Isle 
of  Man,  in  the  Irish  Sea.  They  were  the  parents  of:  i.  Reuben,  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  War,  lives  in  the  state  of  Wisconsin.  2.  Mary  Ann,  of  previous 
mention,  married  Robert  Hudson.  3.  Martha,  married  Isaiah  Forbes,  and 
lives  at  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Caroline,  married  Joseph  Malone, 
and  lives  in  New  Galilee,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Uriah,  died  in  Hoytdale  in 
1887.  6.  Eliza,  married  Charles  Shurlock,  and  lives  in  Wisconsin.  Chil- 
dren of  Robert  and  Mary  Ann  (Fry)  Hudson:  i.  George,  a  resident  of 
Starbuck,  Washington.  2.  Mary  F.,  of  previous  mention,  married  Wil- 
liam Abraham  Freed.  3.  William,  a  merchant  of  Evans  City,  Butler 
county,  Pennsylvania.    4.  Kate,  married  A.  S.  Latcshaw,  and  is  deceased. 

5.  Maude,  married  (first)  A.  L.  Wilson,  (second)  F.  A.  Rowland,  and 
lives  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  6.  Nina,  married  J.  A.  Dombart, 
and  lives  in  Norwalk,  Ohio.  Children  of  William  Abraham  and  Mary  F. 
(Hudson)  Freed:  i.  Herbert  A.,  an  attendant  of  Geneva  College,  also  the 
engineering  department  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  College ;  married  Maryi 
Boyer.  2.  Elta  M.,  a  graduate  of  Geneva  College,  class  of  1910.  3.  Eliza- 
beth, died  in  infancy  from  an  attack  of  diphtheria.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


The  Peflfer  family  of  Western  Pennsylvania  have  been  iden- 
PEFFER     tified  with  a  variety  of  important  business   interests   since 

their  advent  in  this  country.  They  have  shown  themselves 
to  be  energetic  and  desirable  citizens,  and  have  been  highly  esteemed  in 
the  different  communities  in  which  they  have  resided. 

(I)  Gottlieb  Peffer,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Harmony,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a 
tailor  by  trade,  and  later  purchased  a  farm  north  of  Harmony,  on  which  he 
resided  until  his  death.  He  became  a  very  prosperous  member  of  the 
community,  and  was  liberal  in  proportion  to  his  prosperity.  He  assisted 
generously  in  the  payment  for  the  first  Lutheran  Church  erected  at  Zelien- 
ople,  Butler  county.  He  married  Martha  Rice.  They  had  children:  J. 
Frederick,  went  to  California  in  1849,  established  a  cattle  ranch,  and  died 


622  PENNSYLVANIA 

there;  William  H.,  see  forward;  John,  deceased,  was  a  farmer;  Gottlieb, 
a  retired  merchant;  Joseph,  a  farmer,  now  living  retired  in  Harmony; 
Frank,  a  retired  merchant,  lives  in  Ambridge,  Pennsylvania;  Mary,  mar- 
ried Christian  Texter,  and  lives  in  Evans  City;  Rebecca,  deceased;  Emma, 
married  Peter  Scheidemantel ;  Elizabeth,  married  Jacob  Fleming,  and  lives 
in  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania;  C.  G.  L.,  a  resident  of  Harmony. 

(H)  William  H.  Peffer,  son  of  Gottlieb  and  Martha  (Rice)  Peffer, 
was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  12,  1828. 
His  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  his  native  county,  where  he  owned  and 
cultivated  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  in  Lancaster  town- 
ship. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Grace  Reformed  Church  of 
Harmony.  He  married  Judith  Boehm,  born  in  Bethlehem,  Northampton 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1834,  died  in  February,  1909,  daughter  of  James 
Peter  and  Judith  (Wasser)  Boehm,  both  bom  in  Northampton  county. 
He  taught  in  one  schoolhouse  for  twenty-one  successive  years,  both  the 
English  and  the  German  language.  He  also  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
stone  mason.  He  was  active  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resided,  and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They  had  children: 
William,  died  in  young  manhood;  Cordelia,  married  C.  V.  Bauer;  Edwin, 
a  teacher;  Frank,  at  one  time  employed  on  the  railroad,  later  a  hotel  pro- 
prietor; Judith,  married  Mr.  Peffer,  as  above  stated;  Mary,  married  Jacob 
Shelley,  and  lived  in  Zelienople,  Pennsylvania.  William  H.  and  Judith 
(Boehm)  Peffer  had  children:  Mary  R.,  was  a  school  teacher,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years;  Eliza,  married  James  A.  McGowan,  and  lives 
at  Prospect,  Pennsylvania ;  Clarence  Wesley,  see  forward ;  Jacob  F.,  a  clerk 
in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia. 

(HI)  Clarence  Wesley  Peffer,  son  of  William  H.  and  Judith  (Boehm) 
Peffer,  was  born  near  Harmony,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  September 
17,  1862.  His  education  was  acquired  in  Peffer  School,  No.  4,  which  he 
attended  for  a  period  of  five  months  each  year.  As  he  was  the  eldest  son, 
some  of  the  more  responsible  duties  of  the  farm  soon  devolved  upon  him, 
and  he  became  the  chief  assistant  of  his  father.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years 
he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  store  of  his  uncle,  C.  G.  L.  Peffer,  in  Har- 
mony, remaining  there  two  years.  For  a  period  of  fourteen  years  he  was 
then  a  clerk  for  G.  D.  Swain,  in  Harmony.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he 
became  associated  in  the  lumber  business  with  John  Ifft,  under  the  firm 
name  of  John  Ifft  &  Company,  this  being  continued  for  nine  years.  In  1907 
he  came  to  Darlington,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  purchased  the  general  store 
of  Jonathan  Marks,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  since  that  time.  He 
has  added  largely  to  the  general  stock  of  the  business  and  increased  its 
capacity  in  every  direction.  In  addition  to  this  he  is  also  interested  in 
farming  lands  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Peffer  married  (first)  September  17,  1896,  Elenora  Ifft,  bom  at 
Petersville,   Pennsylvania,   died   March   26,    1898,   daughter  of   John   and 


BEAVER   COUNTY  623 

Sophia  Ifft,  of  Zelienople,  Pennsylvania.  They  had  one  child,  Beulah  E., 
born  September  19,  1897.  Mr.  Peffer  married  (second)  August  z8,  1907, 
Margaretta  Christiana  Laderer,  born  in  Lancaster  township,  Butler  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  15,  1870.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grace  Reformed 
Church,  and  Mrs.  Peffer  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Her  father, 
Jacob  Laderer,  was  born  in  Erkennbrechts-Weiler,  Upper  Bailiwick,  Nur- 
tingen,  Wuerttemberg,  Germany,  January  12,  1831,  died  February  21,  1909. 
After  being  graduated  from  the  public  schools  he  prepared  himself  for  the 
profession  of  teaching  by  a  course  of  study  at  a  seminary  at  Nurtingen.  He 
then  taught  school  for  a  time  at  Darmsheim,  and  in  1854  emigrated  to 
America  with  his  young  wife.  Having  studied  for  a  time  in  Pittsburgh,  he 
obtained  a  position  at  the  parochial  school  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  in  Zelienople, 
Pennsylvania.  He  also  played  the  pipe  organ  in  that  church  for  a  period 
of  forty  years.  In  addition  to  teaching  in  the  school  he  gave  private  in- 
struction in  music,  on  the  fine  piano  made  in  Stuttgart,  Germany,  which  had 
been  presented  to  him  by  his  mother  upon  his  fourteenth  birthday,  at  which 
time  a  good  instrument  was  a  rare  and  costly  possession.  Mrs.  Peffer  still 
has  this  instrument,  and  it  is  in  remarkably  good  condition.  In  1858  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Middle  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1864  a  store 
in  Middle  Lancaster,  which  he  conducted  several  years.  He  was  a  man  of 
decided  influence  and  prominence  in  the  community,  filling  the  responsible 
office  of  postmaster  for  eighteen  years;  for  the  same  length  of  time  he 
acted  as  secretary  of  the  German  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Zelienople; 
and  he  was  justice  of  the  peace  and  school  director  for  many  years.  Mr. 
Laderer  married,  in  1853,  Sarah  Geiger,  born  at  Darmsheim,  Upper  Baili- 
wick, Boblingen,  April  30,  1833,  eighth  of  the  nine  children  of  John  Jacob 
and  Dorothea  (Santer)  Geiger,  of  Darmsheim.  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Geiger) 
Laderer  had  children:  Mary  Louisa,  born  September  10,  1854,  married  T. 
D.  McKinney,  of  Independence,  Missouri ;  Henry  Edward,  born  June  4,  1856, 
married  Elizabeth  Dornhoflf,  and  lives  in  Portersville,  Pennsylvania ;  William 
Carl,  born  September  21,  1857,  married  Matilda  Wahl,  and  has  a  carriage 
factory  at  Evans  City,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  also  resides ;  Jacob  Frederick, 
born  February  18,  1859,  married  Emma,  daughter  of  ex-Governor  Rich, 
and  lives  in  McPherson,  Kansas,  where  he  is  the  proprietor  of  several  stores 
for  general  merchandise;  Sara  Matilda,  born  June  27,  1866,  married  John 
Christophel,  a  farmer  at  Middle  Lancaster;  Margaretta  C,  who  married  Mr. 
Pefifer,  as  above  stated.  John  George  Laderer,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Peffer,  was  bom  June  11.  1798,  died  December  27,  1847.  He  married  Mar- 
garethe  Schott,  of  Erkennbrechts-Weiler,  Upper  Bailiwick,  Nurtingen, 
Wuerttemberg,  and  Jacob,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Peffer,  was  their  only  child. 


William  Lafferty,  a  farmer,  whose  entire  life  was  spent  in 
LAFFERTY     Ireland,  married  Ellen  and  had  children:     Barney, 

see  forward  ;  John  :  James  ;  Hugh  ;  Patrick  ;  Mary,  died 

unmarried ;  Maggie,  married  Flannigan ;  Nancy,  died  young.     They 

all  lived  and  died  in  Ireland. 


624  PENNSYLVANIA 

(II)  Barney  Lafferty,  son  of  William  and  Ellen  Lafferty,  was  born  in 
county  Down,  Ireland,  in  1802,  died  in  Darlington,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1879.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  in  addition  to  this 
cultivated  a  farm.  He  married  and  raised  all  of  his  children  in  Ireland, 
but  in  his  old  age  came  to  America  to  live  with  them.  He  married  Mary 
McMullin,  bom  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  died  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-one  years.  She  had  an  only  brother,  Patrick  McMullin.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lafferty  had  children :  William,  deceased,  was  a  farmer  in  Darling- 
ton township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  married  M'argaret  Reynolds; 
Hugh,  died  unmarried ;  Elizabeth,  died  unmarried ;  Barney,  see  forward ; 
Patrick,  died  unmarried  in  April,  1887 ;  Mary  Ann,  unmarried,  lives  on  the 
homestead. 

(III)  Barney  Lafferty,  or,  as  he  was  christened,  Bernard,  son  of  Barney 
and  Mary  (McMullin)  Lafferty,  was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  in 
March,  1836.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  county  Down,  and 
from  an  early  age  assisted  his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  In  1852 
he  emigrated  to  America,  deciding  that  the  New  World  held  out  better 
prospects  for  advancement  to  a  young  man  of  energy  and  ambition.  In  this 
idea  he  was  not  mistaken,  and  he  has  made  a  success  of  his  career  in  this 
country.  He  selected  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  as  a  suitable  place  for  a  home, 
and  for  the  first  year  worked  as  a  laborer  in  Schuylkill  and  Luzerne  coun- 
ties. He  then  went  westward  to  Pittsburgh,  where  he  worked  in  the  coal 
mines.  On  July  5,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  G,  Twenty-sixth  Regiment 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  three  years.  He  fought  bravely  at 
Shiloh,  and  later  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  was  once  wounded 
in  the  ankle.  After  the  war  he  came  to  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  his  brother  Hugh  had  settled  in  1851,  and  to  which  sec- 
tion his  brother  Patrick  and  sister  Mary  Ann  had  come  during  the  progress 
of  the  Civil  War.  For  some  time  he  was  employed  at  the  coal  mines,  and 
in  1885  purchased  the  Governor  Todd  farm  of  one  hundred  and  four  acres. 
He  and  all  in  the  family  are  devout  Roman  Catholics,  and  he  gives  his 
political  support  to  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Lafferty  married,  December  i,  1875,  Mary  Roth,  born  in  Germany, 
who  carrte  to  America  with  her  parents  when  she  was  two  years  of  age,  and 
died  in  May,  1892.  They  had  children :  Bernard,  an  engineer  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad,  married  Lousia  Steinley,  and  lives  in  Freedom,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  Wilhelmina,  unmarried,  manages  the  household  for  her  father ;  Ellen, 
married  Robert  Myers,  and  lives  in  Rochester,  Pennsylvania;  William,  un- 
married, a  brakeman  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company ; 
John,  has  charge  of  a  stationary  eng'ine  in  a  coal  mine. 


The  Fitzgerald  family  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
FITZGERALD  traces  its  ancestry  to  the  "Emerald  Isle,"  where  the  fore- 
bears were  for  the  most  part  engaged  in  agricultural 

pursuits.    With  a  natural  love  for  the  beautiful  particularly  in  nature,  they 

devoted  themselves  extensively  to  gardening. 


5L.jfJ^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  625 

(I)  John  Fitzgerald,  whose  entire  life  was  spent  in  Ireland,  married 
Mary  Conway  and  had  children :    James  and  Thomas. 

(II)  Thomas  Fitzgerald,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Conway)  Fitzgerald, 
was  born  in  county  Kerry,  Ireland,  1846,  and  came  to  the  United  States  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  The  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
wealthy  families  as  a  gardener.  He  came  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  m 
1885,  resided  there  three  years,  then  removed  to  Dixmont,  where  he  remained 
for  a  time,  and  finally  settled  in  Beaver  permanently  ten  years  ago.  He 
married  Mary,  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  daughter  of  Anthony  Healey,  and 
they  have  had  children:  Joseph,  born  June  10,  1865,  died  June  4,  1884; 
John,  born  November  3,  1866,  manager  of  the  Plumbers'  Supply  Company 
in  Erie,  Pennsylvania;  Thomas  M.,  see  forward;  James,  born  September 
16,  1869,  married  Gertrude  Potts  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh ;  Anna,  born  Novem- 
ber 7,  1870,  died,  unmarried,  October  20,  1909;  Mary  Catherine,  born  April 
8,  1875,  died  in  April,  1905,  married  Edward  Kennedy ;  Edward  Lawrence, 
born  August  13,  1879,  married  Catherine  McConnell;  William  A.,  born 
March  20,  1881,  died  November  27,  1884. 

(III)  Thomas  M.  Fitzgerald,  son  of  Thoma^id  Mary  (Healey)  Fitz- 
gerald, was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Q|pns>^^n,  February  27,  1868. 
His  school  education  was  commenced  in  liJKity  ot^ttsburgh,  Pennsylvania, 
after  a  time  he  was  sent  to  Ireland,  and  at  the  expiration  of  three  years  re- 
turned to  this  country  and  completed  his  education  in  this  country.  He  has 
always  been  identified  with  business  as  a  florist,  and  has  achieved  a  more  than 
satisfactory  amount  of  success.  He  came  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
with  a  fortune  consisting  of  one  hundred  dollars,  and  from  this  small  be- 
ginning he  has  attained  his  present  prosperity,  owing  to  his  indefatigable 
energy,  his  perseverance  and  his  excellent  business  methods.  At  first  he 
leased  the  Dravo  place,  remaining  in  that  location  for  a  period  of  eight  years. 
By  this  time  he  had  amassed  a  sufficient  capital  to  enable  him  to  purchase  the 
Campbell  place  on  Fifth  street.  At  first  he  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  to  raising  vegetables,  but  later  turned  his  attention  to  floriculture.  At 
the  present  time  he  has  six  men  constantly  in  his  employ,  and  at  times  is 
obliged  to  add  to  this  number.  He  is  called  upon  to  fill  orders  for  all  parts 
of  the  United  States,  the  superiority  of  his  output  having  become  recognized 
far  and  wide.  He  commenced  with  one  thousand  feet  of  glass,  and  now  has 
about  thirty  thousand ;  at  first  he  had  the  ordinary  wooden  benches  to  sup- 
port his  plants  in  the  greenhouses,  now  he  has  model  cement  benches. 
Altogether  he  now  has  twelve  greenhouses  of  large  size,  covering  a  huge 
tract  of  ground.  He  understands  fully  the  needs  and  requirements  of  the 
diflferent  plants,  the  soil  best  adapted  to  their  growth,  the  temperature  and 
all  the  other  conditions  necessary  to  produce  the  most  healthful  and  beauti- 
ful specimens.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  Florist 
Association  and  of  the  Horticultural  Association  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Fitzgerald  married,  July  30,  1895,  Nora,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and 


626  PENNSYLVANIA 

Catherine  Miniham,  and  has  had  children:  Catherine,  John  and  Joseph, 
twins ;  Helen,  Anna,  Agnes,  all  still  at  home.  The  family  attend  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  Mr.  Fitzgerald  is  Independent  in  his  political  opinions.  He 
keeps  well  in  touch  with  all  important  current  events,  and  takes  pleasure  in 
forming  his  opinions  in  an  unbiased  manner. 


In  view  of  the  amicable  feelings  that  have  always  characterized 
MAY     whatever  dealings  have  existed  between  the  United  States  and 

Germany,  and  in  consideration  of  the  inestimable  aid  that  was 
rendered  the  thirteen  colonies  by  that  country  when  the  United  States  of 
America  was  in  the  process  of  formation  and  the  American  continent  was 
writhing  in  birth  throes  preparatory  to  giving  to  the  world  a  new  nation, 
it  is  pleasant  to  consider  the  vast  number  of  natives  of  Germany  to  whom  the 
United  States  has  offered  a  home.  True,  it  was  but  payment  of  the  debt 
incurred  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  immigrants  have  again  placed 
our  country  under  lasting  obligations  to  them  by  their  works  in  raising  our 
nation  to  a  position  of  eminence  among  the  other  leaders  of  thought  and 
civilization.  Another  strand  in  the  ties  binding  the  two  lands  was  added 
when  the  May  family  of^^rmany  came  to  the  United  States. 

( I )  George  May,  ^^^ligjgjgt  ancestor,  settled  in  Brighton  township, 
Beaver  county,  Penns)^^nia,  a^B^as  one  of  the  first  t(J  make  a  home  in 
that  sparsely  settled  region.  His  occupation  in  the  fatherland  had  been  that 
of  farmer,  and  so  he  continued  in  his  new  environment,  clearing  the  land 
from  which  he  afterward  derived  a  living.  His  wife  had  come  with  him  to 
his  new  home  and  there  both  died,  she  having  borne  him  several  children. 

(II)  James  May,  son  of  George  May,  was  born  in  Brighton  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  died  in  Fallston,  same  county.  In  his  youth 
he  attended  the  schools  of  his  birthplace,  later  in  life  engaging  in  general 
farming  operations  on  his  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  North  Sewickley 
township.  He  possessed  inherent  skill  in  farming,  and  continued  therein 
with  more  than  ordinary  success,  taking  pride  in  the  excellent  appearance  of 
his  property,  which  he  had  improved  to  a  marked  extent  and  also  enjoying  the 
respect  accorded  him  by  his  neighbors  for  the  profitable  results  that  attended 
his  agricultural  work.  He  married  Mary  Lafferty,  whose  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Ireland  who  had  settled  in  Washington  county,  where  Washington 
now  is  located.  They  were  the  owners  of  three  hundred  acres  in  that 
vicinity,  later  moving  to  Brighton  township,  Beaver  county,  where  they 
died.    James  and  Mary  (Lafferty)  May  were  the  parents  of  ten  children. 

(III)  John  W.  May,  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Lafferty)  May,  was 
born  in  North  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December 
15,  1859.  When  he  was  four  years  of  age  he  was  brought  to  Fallston,  and 
in  that  place  attended  school,  obtaining  his  education  in  the  public  institu- 
tions of  that  place.  His  first  employment  was  in  the  keg  works  of  the  M. 
F.  and  S.  Kennedy  Company,  and  on  January  2,  1885,  he  began  in  the 
grocery  business  in  Fallston,  one  room  of  his  house  serving  as  his  store. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  627 

After  seven  years  spent  in  these  quarters  his  business  had  so  expanded  that  it 
justified  the  building  of  a  separate  store,  which  he  did  in  1892,  continuing 
in  business  in  the  place  then  erected  to  the  present  time.  He  handles  an 
excellent  line  of  groceries,  as  well  as  the  numerous  commodities  useful  in 
rural  life,  and  holds  the  patronage  of  a  large  proportion  of  the  residents 
of  the  country-side.  Mr.  May  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  served 
his  community  as  member  of  the  school  board  and  as  councilman.  His 
fraternal  society  is  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  with  his 
wife  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  May  married,  March  22,  1883,  Emma  Ora  Jackson,  of  Fallston, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  has  children :  Maude  R. ;  Clark  J.,  lives  at 
home ;  Lester  W.,  a  teamster  and  coal  dealer  of  Fallston,  Pennsylvania. 


America  is  greatly  indebted  for  its  general  prosperity  to  the 
BRAUN     German  nation.    The  emigrants  who  have  come  to  the  United 

States  from  Germany  have  brought  with  them  those  character- 
istics which  make  for  the  progress  and  right  development  of  any  country. 
Progressive  to  a  certain  extent  are  the  Germans,  but  what  they  possess 
in  richest  measure  are  those  qualities  of  thrifta|B|^try  and  conservatism 
without  which  all  progress  is  unprofitab^B|  tni^B  The  Braun  family, 
of  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  PeniP^ania,  is  a  case  in  point.  Al- 
though they  have  had  but  two  generations  in  this  country,  they  have 
adapted  themselves  to  conditions  here  with  a  readiness  which  is  admir- 
able, and  have  done  their  duty  with  credit  to  themselves  in  whatever 
sphere  it  has  been  their  fortune  to  live.  The  grandparents  on  the  paternal 
side  of  the  present  generation  lived  and  died  in  Germany. 

(I)  Louis  A.  Braun  was  born  in  Germany  and  was  educated  in  that 
country.  He  learned  the  trade  of  tanning,  at  which  he  became  an  expert, 
and  followed  this  in  his  native  land.  Having  ascertained  that  conditions 
were  better  in  the  United  States  than  in  his  own  country,  Mr.  Braun 
emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
for  a  time  he  followed  the  occupation  of  tanning.  Later  he  established 
himself  in  the  grocery  business  in  Allegheny  City,  and  was  successfully 
engaged  in  this  until  his  death.  He  was  a  man  held  in  high  esteem  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lived,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Braun  married,  in  Allegheny,  Elizabeth 
Goetman,  bom  in  Germany,  who  came  to  this  country  with  her  mother 
and  located  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  her  father  having  died  in 
Germany.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Braun  became  the  parents  of  eight  children. 

(II)  Louis  A.  (2)  Braun,  son  of  Louis  A.  (i)  and  Elizabeth  (Goetman) 
Braun,  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  24,  1864. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home, 
and  upon  leaving  school  found  employment  in  a  soap  manufacturing  plant, 
where  he  worked  until  1899.  He  then  removed  to  New  Brighton,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  in  the  hide  and  tallow  business 


628  PENNSYLVANIA 

conducted  by  Fource,  Sour  &  Company,  for  a  period  of  two  years.  At 
the  expiration  of  this  time  he  bought  out  the  plant  of  this  company  and 
operated  it  himself  for  another  two  years.  He  then  organized  the  Brauu 
Rendering  Company,  of  which  he  was  elected  president  and  general  man- 
ager, and  which  has  been  in  a  flourishing  condition  since  its  inception,  owing 
to  the  excellent  management  of  Mr.  Braun.  At  the  time  of  its  organiza- 
tion, this  company  built  its  present  plant  in  Daugherty  township,  near  New 
Brighton,  and  this  is  equipped  with  every  modern  improvement  for  a  plant 
of  its  kind. 

Mr.  Braun  married,  in  1882,  Matilda  Schreader,  of  North  Side, 
Pittsburgh.  They  have  had  children:  Harry,  deceased;  Nelda,  deceased; 
Lawrence;  Elsie,  deceased;  Louis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Braun  are  members  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party.  While  he  is  not  desirous  of  holding  public  office,  he 
is  ever  ready  as  a  good  citizen  to  support  any  movement  which  is  for  the 
general  good,  and  gives  liberally  both  of  his  time  and  means  for  any 
purpose  of  this  character. 


During  d^^Bte^ialf  of  the  eighteenth  century  five  families 
ELDER     bearing  ^Him€^MElder  emigrated  from  Ireland  to  America, 

settling  in  variou^^tions  of  what  is  now  the  state  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  many  of  their  descendants  are  living  at  the  present  time. 
Among  these  emigrants  was  the  direct  ancestor  of  the  branch  under  dis- 
cussion here. 

(I)  John  Elder  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1710,  and  his  father  was  born 
in   1690. 

(II)  John  (2)  Elder,  son  of  John  (i)  Elder,  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1756,  in  county  Down.  He  was  a  weaver  by  trade  and  had  amassed  a  con- 
siderable fortune.  Unfortunately  he  went  on  a  bond  for  an  acquaintance 
in  Ireland,  and  being  compelled  to  pay  this,  was  obliged  to  part  with  all 
of  his  property.  He  married  Mary  Elder,  also  born  in  county  Down, 
Ireland,  and  they  had  children:  John,  born  in  1783,  died  in  1852,  was  a 
farmer  in  Coshocton,  Ohio;  Matthew,  born  in  1788,  died  in  1863,  was  the 
proprietor  of  a  wool  and  flour  mill  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania; 
Thomas,  died  in  1867;  James,  died  in  1835;  William,  see  forward;  Samuel, 
born  in  1804,  died  in  1861 ;  Margaret,  married  John  Gray  in  Ireland,  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  settled  in  Iowa. 

(III)  William  Elder,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Mary  (Elder)  Elder,  was 
born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  in  1801,  died  in  1862.  He  emigrated  to 
America,  and  in  1827  had  earned  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  bring  his 
parents  to  America.  His  brother  Matthew  was  already  located  in  Darling- 
ton township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  Little  Beaver  creek,  and 
Matthew  and  his  brother  William  conducted  a  flour  mill  there  for  many 
years,  taking  the  flour  to  Philadelphia  by  wagon.  William  Elder  finally 
purchased  six  hundred  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  the  farm  of  J.  V.  White, 


BEAVER   COUNTY  629 

which  was  close  by,  and  he  was  engaged  in  farming  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  William  Elder  was  a  Whig,  and  later  an  Abolitionist.  He  and 
his  family  were  members  of  the  Associate  Presbyterian  Church,  better 
known  as  Seceders.  Mr.  Elder  married  Sarah  Stewart,  born  in  county 
Down,  Ireland,  in  1806,  died  in  May,  1888.  They  had  children:  John 
Stewart,  see  forward;  Samuel  Rankin,  now  deceased,  lived  on  a  part  of 
the  homestead  in  South  Beaver  township;  Robert  Boyd,  who  served  in 
the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War,  died  of  an  attack  of  typhoid  fever 
in  South  Carolina;  Mattie  Jane,  married  John  Creighton,  a  farmer,  and  is 
living  in  South  Beaver  township. 

(IV)  John  Stewart  Elder,  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Stewart)  Elder, 
was  born  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1835, 
died  September  5,  1886.  He  studied  for  the  ministry  at  Westminster  Col- 
lege, New  Wilmington,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  graduated  from  this  institu- 
tion, but  his  heahh  had  become  impaired  by  too  assiduous  application  to  his 
books,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  to  the  outdoor  occupations  of  the  f^rm. 
After  the  death  of  his  father,  the  farm  was  divided  into  three  parts  and  he 
lived  m  the  house  on  the  old  homestead.  He  and  his  brother  Samuel  R. 
cultivated  five  hundred  acres  in  partnership  un^^he  firm  name  of  Elder 
Brothers,  and  for  many  years  were  extej^kelj^^^eed  in  the  raising  of 
sheep.  John  Stewart  Elder  married  hi^^Br  coi^PPSarah  Ellen  Stewart, 
born  in  Wellsville,  Ohio,  in  1837,  died  dictober  4,  1888,  daughter  of  James 
and  Mary  (McKinzie)  Stewart,  and  granddaughter  of  John  Stewart,  who 
claimed  descent  from  the  royal  house  of  Stuart,  of  Scotland,  in  which 
country  he  was  born,  and  from  whence  he  migrated  to  Ireland.  James 
and  Mary  (McKinzie)  Stewart  emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
two  miles  west  of  West  Liverpool,  Ohio.  He  removed  to  Wellsville,  Ohio, 
where  he  became  a  well  known  merchant.  They  had  children:  Martha; 
Sarah  Ellen,  mentioned  above ;  Mary,  married  William  Fulton,  and  lives  at 
Clinton,  Illinois ;  James  Jr. ;  Rachel.  John  Stewart  and  Sarah  Ellen 
(Stewart)  Elder  had  children:  William  S.,  died  in  infancy;  James  S.,  lives 
on  the  old  homestead,  married  Cora  Creighton,  and  has  children:  Ralph, 
Margaret,  Chalmers  and  Newton;  Robert  Boyd,  unmarried,  lives  on  the 
farm ;  William  Carl,  see  forward. 

(V)  William  Carl  Elder,  D.D.S.,  son  of  John  Stewart  and  Sarah  Ellen 
(Stewart)  Elder,  was  born  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, September  9,  1875.  He  attended  the  Blue  Ridge  District  School, 
near  his  home,  then  the  Greersburg  Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated. 
He  next  matriculated  at  the  department  of  dentistry,  University  of  Indian- 
apolis, and  was  graduated  from  this  institution  in  1901  with  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery.  Shortly  after  his  graduation,  in  association  with 
his  college  room-mate,  Michael  William  Taylor,  he  opened  an  office  at  East 
Liverpool,  Ohio,  and  they  practiced  together  for  a  period  of  two  years. 
Mr.  Elder  was  then  the  mail  carrier  on  the  railroad  from  Darlington,  Penn- 
sylvania, for  two  years,  and  in  1906  he  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of 


630  PENNSYLVANIA 

dentistry  in  Darlington,  Pennsylvania,  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his 
cnosen  profession.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of 
the  community,  affiliating  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has  served  as 
burgess  of  Darlington  and  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  He  married,  October  4,  191 1,  Olive  Gertrude  Taylor, 
born  in  South  Beaver  township.    They  have  no  children. 

Mrs.  Elder  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  S.  and  Rachel  Elizabeth  (Conkle) 
Taylor.  The  former  was  a  grandson  of  William  Taylor  Sr.,  born  in  Ireland, 
who  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Lawrence  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  a  farmer.  William  Jr.,  son  of  WilHam  Tay- 
lor Sr.,  was  born  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  married 
Mary  Ann  Smith,  also  a  native  of  that  county.  They  had  children: 
Alexander,  who  was  colonel  in  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  during  the  Civil 
War,  at  the  close  of  this  struggle  became  a  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Church;  Samuel  S.,  see  forward;  Wilson,  died  in  Andersonville  Prison; 
Sarah  Jane,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years;  Mary  Ann,  died  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years;  Eliza,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years; 
Albert,  a  soldier  durin^^^  Qvil  War,  died  in  Colorado.  Samuel  S.,  son 
of  William  and  Mar^^^V  (flhl^h)  Taylor,  was  born  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania  in  FebWJ^  i^^Vied  in  1903.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War  he  enHsted  in  the  (JnPHundred  and  First  Regiment  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  for  three  and  one-half  years.  He 
was  in  Andersonville  Prison  for  a  short  time  and  was  then  exchanged. 
After  the  war  was  over  he  resumed  his  farming  operations  on  his  farm 
of  one  hundred  acres  in  South  Beaver  township,  and  remained  there  until 
his  death.  He  had  a  well  earned  reputation  as  an  auctioneer  at  country 
sales,  and  was  largely  interested  in  money  dealings  in  connection  with  oil 
leases.  He  was  for  many  years  justice  of  the  peace  of  South  Beaver 
township.  He  married  Rachel  Elizabeth  Conkle,  born  in  South  Beaver 
township  in  1842,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Sarah  (Todd)  Conkle,  see 
forward.  They  had  children:  Mary,  married  Frank  Hays;  Sadie  D., 
married  Joseph  Rossell ;  Dr.  C.  C.  Taylor,  married  Flora  Dawson,  and 
resides  in  East  Rochester ;  Michael  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven 
years,  married  Edith  L.  Calvin;  Olive  Gertrude,  married  William  Carl 
Elder,  D.D.S.,  as  above  stated ;  H.  M.,  unmarried,  a  dentist  in  Rochester, 
Pennsylvania;  Essie  G.,  and  Eva  J.,  unmarried;  Emma  J.,  married  Walter 
E.  Duncan,  and  lives  in  Rochester,  Pennsylvania. 

Michael  Conkle,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Olive  Gertrude  (Taylor) 
Elder,  lived  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  later  life  he  removed  to  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred.  He  was  a  very  active  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  holding  the  office  of  steward,  and  was  noted  for  his 
ability  to  conduct  prayer  meetings  at  the  homes  of  the  members  of  the 
congregation.     He  was  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the  organization  of 


BEAVER   COUNTY  631 

the  Brush  Run  Methodist  Church.  He  married  Sarah  Todd,  and  had 
children :  Susan,  married  T.  Huffman ;  Rachel  Elizabeth,  married  Samuel 
S.  Taylor,  as  above  mentioned;  Rev.  J.  H.,  now  living  retired  in  New 
Waterford,  Ohio,  having  resigned  from  his  pastorate  after  service  as  a 
Methodist  minister  for  half  a  century;  Mary,  married  Hugh  Chain,  lives  in 
New  Waterford,  Ohio;  John,  deceased;  Lula,  married  D.  W.  Moore,  and 
lives  in  East  Palestine,  Ohio;  Calvin  K.,  lives  on  his  farm  in  Ohio,  mar- 
ried (first)  Jessie  Burt,  (second)  Delia  Bradshaw. 


Commercial  and  industrial  activity  is  the  life  of  a  community, 
PARK     and  the  wiheels  of   trade  continue   over  the  road  to  success. 

The  man  or  men  who  found  and  keep  in  successful  operation 
extensive  business  interests,  wherein  are  employed  many  workmen,  does 
much  more  for  the  substantial  and  permanent  development  of  a  city  than 
he  who  enriches  it  by  mere  gifts  of  money.  The  Park  family,  of  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  belongs  to  the  former  class. 

(I)  William  Park,  the  first  of  whom  we  have  record  in  this  county, 
came  from  Cookstown,  Ireland,  itqo,  and  was  landed  at  Philadelphia. 
In  that  city  he  learned  the  trade  ^^^^>ne  mason,  and  was  occupied  with 
this  until  1796,  when  he  remov^^TO  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  In  the 
latter  city  he  pursued  his  trade  for  a  iMte,  then  branched  out  into  the 
contracting  business  and  erected  a  number  of  houses  in  Allegheny  county. 
He  settled  in  McMairstown,  now  Wilkinsburg,  and  still  later  purchased  a 
farm  in  Penn  township,  Allegheny  county,  where  his  death  occurred  at  a 
ripe  old  age.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  in  Ireland 
had  joined  the  Order  of  Knights  Templar.  He  married,  and  had  children : 
John,  James,  David,  see  forward ;  William,  Robert,  Thomas,  Jane. 

(II)  David  Park,  son  of  William  Park,  was  a  wagon  maker  by  oc- 
cupation. After  his  marriage  he  settled  in  Wilkinsburg,  Allegheny  county, 
later  removed  to  East  Liberty,  in  the  same  county,  and  about  1844  to 
Beaver  township.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  Sewickley  township,  about  one 
mile  from  Freedom,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  married  Ann 
Hamilton  and  had  children :  James,  see  forward ;  George ;  William ;  John ; 
David;  Theodore;  Elizabeth,  married  Hiram  Phillip;  M'ary,  married  Rev. 
John  Brown. 

(III)  James  Park,  son  of  David  and  Ann  (Hamilton)  Park,  learned 
the  trade  of  wagon  building  from  his  father,  and  was  thus  occupied  for 
many  years.  He  also  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  Freedom,  in 
which  enterprise  he  was  very  successful.  He  married  Emily  McDonald 
and  had  children:     Wliliam  A.,  John  H.,  George  I.,  see  forward;  Anna. 

(IV)  George  I.  Park,  son  of  James  and  Emily  (McDonald)  Park, 
was  born  in  New  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1871.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  upon  leaving  these  entered  upon  his  business  career 
with  the  Park  &  Park  Stone  Quarry  Company,  at  New  Galilee,  and  with 


632  PENNSYLVANIA 

this  concern  he  rose  to  the  position  of  superintendent.  He  then  went  to 
Conway  in  order  to  assume  the  duties  of  superintendent  of  No.  2,  of  the 
Park  Fire  Clay  Company,  then  to  the  No.  3  Works,  and  from  there  to 
Brady  Run.  He  was  next  transferred  to  Kenilworth,  West  Virginia,  re- 
maining there  for  a  period  of  two  years.  From  there  he  went  to  Galilee. 
For  a  time  he  had  attended  the  Theological  College  at  Greenville,  Mercer 
county,  Pennsylvania,  then  went  to  the  Spencerian  Business  College  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Monaca  Brick  Works, 
a  branch  of  the  Pennsylvania  Clay  Company,  and  later,  in  the  year  of  the 
Beaver  Centennial  celebration,  established  himself  in  the  real  estate  bus- 
iness. He  does  not  act  as  a  real  estate  broker,  but  buys  and  sells  inde- 
pendently, and  also  builds  many  houses  and  sells  them.  He  also  established 
the  Carpet  &  Rug  Company  of  Rochester,  which  he  sold  in  1905.  In  1900 
he  established,  in  association  with  Mr.  Mahan,  the  Rochester  Furniture 
and  Auction  Company,  which  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  with  a  volume 
of  business  of  constantly  increasing  proportions.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
residence  in  Beaver  at  the  corner  of  East  End  avenue  and  Third  street.  Mr. 
Park  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Beaver  County  Telephone  Company.  His 
political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  ^^^Bican  party,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  As  a  bu^Ss  man  Mr.  Park  has  earned  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  with  wfcm  he  has  had  dealings,  and  as  a  citizen  he 
bears  the  highest  character.  He  is  devoted  to  his  family  and  friends,  and 
has  done  much  to  contribute  to  the  general  welfare  of  the  community.  Mr. 
Park  married  Ola,  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  Kennedy,  in  1901,  and  they  have 
children:  Mary,  born  1903;  Olive,  1904;  William,  1905. 


The  United  States  ranks  today  as  the  foremost  nation 
GISHBAUGHER     of  the  modern  civilized  world.     It  has  served  as  the 

melting-pot  of  the  best  characteristics  of  all  other 
nations  and  the  outcome  is  a  fine,  sterling  American  citizenship,  consisting 
of  strong  and  able-bodied  men,  loyal  and  public-spirited  in  civic  life,  honor- 
able in  business,  and  alert  and  enthusiastically  in  sympathy  with  every 
measure  tending  to  further  the  material  welfare  of  the  entire  country. 
The  great  empire  of  Germany  has  contributed  its  fair  quota  to  the  up- 
building of  this  great  nation  and  among  its  representatives  in  this  country 
are  to  be  found  successful  men  in  every  walk  of  life,  including  the  pro- 
fessions as  well  as  the  prosperous  farmers  and  business  men.  The  Gish- 
baugher  family,  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  is  no  exception  to  this 
rule.  While  the  family  is  only  in  its  third  generation  in  America,  they 
have  made  their  mark  in  various  directions,  and  have  proved  themselves 
men  of  sterling  worth  in  the  communities  in  which  they  reside. 

(I)  Michael  Gishbaugher,  who  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Baden, 
Germany,  in  1833,  died  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  22,  1905.  His  early  years  were  spent  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  was  born,  and  on  which  he  worked  until  he  was  twenty-four  years 


BEAVER   COUNTY  633 

of  age,  at  which  time  he  decided  to  emigrate  to  America.  He  arrived  at 
Philadelphia,  going  from  this  city  to  Lowell,  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  and 
worked  there  in  the  iron  furnaces  for  a  period  of  two  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
found  employment  in  the  Freeman  Butts  coal  mine,  and  his  connection 
with  this  was  uninterrupted  for  thirty-five  years.  He  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  acres  of  land  one  mile  east  of  the  above  mentioned  mine, 
and  resided  on  this  property  until  his  death.  In  addition  to  his  mining 
labors  he  oversaw  the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  the  actual  work  being  done 
by  his  sons.  In  personal  appearance  he  was  of  medium  height,  very 
corpulent,  and  of  great  strength.  Fifteen  years  prior  to  his  death  he 
opened  a  coal  mine  on  his  own  land  and  this  is  still  in  excellent  operation. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Gishbaugher  married  Clara  Kremer,  born  in  1832,  in  Germany, 
died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1901.  Her  parents  lived  near 
the  Swiss  border,  where  her  father  was  a  molder  by  trade  and  employed 
in  iron  works.  His  widow  came  to  America  about  1850,  settling  in  Darling- 
ton township,  Beaver  county,  at  th|«|i^  of  Mansfield's  Hill.  She  brought 
her  children  with  her  and  they  li-^^lum'  a  log  cabin.  Her  children  were : 
Anna,  married  Adam  Lebbard,  and  lived  in  Canton,  Ohio;  Eve,  Anton, 
Lawrence  and  Christian,  moved  to  Punfem  county,  Ohio,  where  they 
lived  on  farms ;  Clara,  who  married  Mr.  Gishbaugher,  as  above  stated. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gishbaugher  had  children:  Mary  and  Kate,  died  unmarried 
in  1909;  Christian,  married  Irene  Nicely,  and  lives  in  Darlington  township; 
Clara,  married  Philip  Krause,  and  lives  in  Butler,  Pennsylvania;  Anna, 
died  January  28,  1896;  Jennie,  married  Edward  James,  and  Hves  in  New 
Brighton,  Pennsylvania;  Michael  J.,  see  forward;  Maggie,  married  Louis 
Smith,  and  lives  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania;  Sarah,  died  at  the  age  of 
ten  years;  Ella,  died  when  nine  years  of  age. 

(II)  Michael  J.  Gishbaugher,  son  of  Michael  and  Clara  (Kremer) 
Gishbaugher,  was  born  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  21,  1871.  He  was  born  in  a  house  at  the  Butts  Coal  Works, 
and  attended  the  Oakdale  district  school.  He  was  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  his  father  bought  the  home  farm,  on  which  Mr.  Gishbaugher  now 
lives,  and  for  a  period  of  ten  years  Michael  J.  drove  a  mule  in  the  coal 
mine.  He  then  commenced  working  on  the  farm  for  his  father,  an  occu- 
pation with  which  he  was  identified  until  the  death  of  the  latter.  When 
this  death  occurred,  Mr.  Gishbaugher,  together  with  his  sisters,  Mary  and 
Kate,  bought  the  interests  in  the  farm  from  the  other  heirs,  and  now  Mr. 
Gishbaugher  has  acquired  the  sole  right  to  this  property.  He  owns  ninety- 
four  acres  of  land,  which  he  cultivates  to  its  fullest  extent,  making  a 
specialty  of  raising  large  crops  of  potatoes.  He  also  operates  the  coal 
mine  on  the  farm  with  a  marked  degree  of  success.  His  political  affiliations 
are  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church. 


634  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  Gishbaugher  married,  January  i,  1894,  Margaret  Bratny,  born 
in  Cannelton,  Pennsylvania,  February  15,  1867,  daughter  of  James  and 
Catherine  (Cochran)  Bratny,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  September, 
1906,  the  latter  May  12,  191 1.  She  was  born  in  county  Cork,  and  he  in 
county  Sligo,  Ireland.  He  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  she  nine  years  of 
age,  when  they  emigrated  to  America  with  their  parents,  and  they  both 
grew  up  in  the  city  of  New  York.  James  Bratny  drove  an  omnibus  in 
that  city  for  a  time,  then  removed  to  Cannelton,  where  he  was  a  mule  driver 
in  a  coal  mine  for  many  years.  Later  he  bought  a  farm  on  which  he  resided 
until  his  death.  They  had  children:  Margaret,  mentioned  above  as  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Gishbaugher;  Benjamin  and  Thomas,  twins,  the  latter  em- 
ployed as  a  digger  in  the  coal  mines;  Mary,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gishbaugher  have  had  children :  Michael,  born  December 
5,  1895;  William,  March  23,  1896;  Leo,  February  29,  1898;  Paul,  September 
18,  1899;  Joseph,  October  29,  1901 ;  Catherine,  September  15,  1903;  Louis, 
June  24,  1905 ;  Leonard,  January  28,  1907,  died  in  March  of  the  same 
year;  Clara,  March  11,  1908-;  Helen,  March  14,  1910. 

The  Duff  family  was  lidded  in  this  country  by  John  and 
DUFF     Ann  (Wallace)  Mcllduff,  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction,  who  came 

from  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  about  1775,  and  settled  on  land 
near  what  is  now  known  as  Export,  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  farm  still  in  the  possession  of  some  of  their  descendants.  It  is  a 
matter  of  some  difficulty  to  trace  all  the  lines  uninterruptedly,  as  during 
the  early  disturbances  in  this  country  many  valuable  church  and  other 
official  records  were  lost  or  destroyed  by  the  various  enemies  of  the  new- 
comers in  this  land.  The  Indians  were  particularly  destructive,  as  they 
burned  whenever  the  opportunity  arose.  There  appears  to  be  no  doubt, 
however,  that  all  bearing  the  name  of  Duff  have  this  common  origin. 

(I)  Oliver  Duff  came  with  his  family  to  Darlington  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  probably  from  Westmoreland  county  direct,  or  pos- 
sibly from  the  edge  of  Allegheny  county,  about  1798-99,  and  purchased 
four  hundred  acres  of  land.  One  of  his  great-grandchildren,  William  J. 
Duff,  now  resides  on  a  part  of  this  tract.  Oliver  Duff  died  in  1799, 
leaving  four  sons,  and  he  left  his  estate  of  four  hundred  acres  to  the 
following :  James ;  William,  see  forward ;  Robert ;  John,  who  settled  in 
Chippewa  township,  Beaver  county. 

(II)  William  Duff,  son  of  Oliver  Duff,  lived  and  died  on  his  share 
of  the  estate  left  by  his  father.  He  and  his  brother  Robert  took  an  active 
part  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  he  received  a  patent  for  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  the  state  of  Kansas,  as  payment  for  his  services 
in  this  conflict.  He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Seceders'  Church. 
He  married  Esther  Caughey,  of  Irish  extraction,  whose  family  came  to 
Beaver  county  from  Westmoreland  county.  Mrs.  Duff  was  a  very  young 
girl  when  her  mother  died,  and  she  had  many  interesting  experiences  to 


BEAVER   COUNTY  635 

relate  of  her  girlhood  days.  When  she  and  her  father  came  to  Beaver 
county,  that  section  was  practically  a  wilderness,  and  they  went  before  the 
others  of  the  family  in  order  to  prepare  a  home  for  them.  They  settled 
in  South  Beaver  township,  and  set  about  constructing  a  log  cabin.  They 
were  obliged  to  live  in  this  even  while  it  was  in  course  of  construction,  as 
the  wolves  and  other  wild  animals,  then  infesting  the  woods,  made  life 
very  dangerous,  and  it  was  frequently  a  matter  of  difficulty  to  keep  the 
wolves  at  a  respectful  distance.  William  and  Esther  (Caughey)  Duff  had 
children :  Sarah,  married  David  Wallace,  and  lived  in  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio;  Ellen,  married  Archibald  McNair,  and  lived  in  Mercer  county; 
Samuel  C,  see  forward ;  Mary,  died  unmarried ;  Eliza  Jane,  never  married ; 
Esther,  married  Joseph  Bayless,  and  lived  in  the  state  of  Kansas. 

(III)  Samuel  C.  Duflf,  son  of  William  and  Esther  (Caughey)  Duff, 
was  bom  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  22,  1822,  died  December  i,  1907.  His  entire  life 
was  spent  on  the  farm  on  which  he  had  been  born.  He  was  not  a  man 
of  much  physical  strength,  but  he  was  possessed  of  wonderful  powers  of 
endurance,  which  enabled  him  to  .iujld  his  own  against  difficulties  which 
would  have  overcome  many  otheAir  He  became  the  sole  owner  of  the 
farm  by  purchasing  the  rights  of  his  sisters,  and  cultivated  it  to  advantage. 
He  preferred  to  lease  the  coal  rights  under  the  farm  rather  than  assume 
the  responsibilities  of  personal  operation.  He  was  an  ardent  advocate  of 
Republican  principles,  and  served  as  township  assessor.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Duff  married 
Emma  C.  Wilson,  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  in  1825,  died  in  February, 
1908,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  (McCune)  Wilson,  the  latter  born  in 
Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Captain  William  McCune,  who  was  an 
active  participant  in  the  War  of  1812.  Robert  Wilson  was  bom  in  county 
Down,  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  early  manhood.  Later 
he  removed  with  his  family,  about  1831,  to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  owned  a  farm.  They  had  children:  William,  Joseph,  John,  Samuel, 
James,  Andrew,  Maria,  Martha,  Emma  C,  married  Samuel  C.  Duff,  as 
mentioned  above;  Margaret,  Elizabeth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duff  had  children: 
William  J.,  see  forward;  Mary  J.;  Olive,  married  John  Beight,  lives  in 
Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  has  three  children :   Catherine,  Paul,  Doris. 

(IV)  William  J.  Duff,  son  of  Samuel  C.  and  Emma  C.  (Wilson)  Duff, 
was  born  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
1,  1876,  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  He  and  his  sisters  attended 
the  Hartshorne  district  school,  from  whence  they  went  to  the  Academy  at 
Dariington,  and  were  graduated  from  this  institution.  In  1913  Mr.  Duff  had 
a  fine  brick  residence  erected  on  the  homestead,  in  which  he  and  his  sister, 
Mary  J.,  now  live.  Up  to  the  present  time  the  entire  life  of  Mr.  Duff  has 
been  spent  on  the  homestead,  which  is  owned  jointly  by  his  sister  and 
himself,  neither  of  them  being  married.  They  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Darlington,  and  Mr.  EKiff  takes  a  deep  interest 


636  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  all  public  matters  concerning  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  does 
his  best  to  further  community  interests.  He  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party. 


Robert  Watt,  who  was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  emigrated 
WATT     to  America  with  his  family  in  1824.     For  a  time  he  made  his 

home  in  Quebec,  Canada,  then  lived  in  Ontario  for  a  short  time. 
In  1825  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  of  land  in  South 
Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  there.  The  journey  from  Canada  to  Pennsylvania  was  made  by 
wagon,  and  was  a  long  and  tedious  journey.  He  and  his  family  belonged 
to  the  Presbyterian  denomination.  He  married  Isabella  Donahue,  also 
born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  and  they  had  children:  George,  who  went 
to  Mississippi,  where  he  was  a  wealthy  planter,  receiving  three  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars  indemnity  from  the  government  for  the  loss  he 
Lad  sustained  by  the  army  of  Sherman  during  the  Civil  War;  Hugh,  was 
also  a  planter,  seven  miles  from  Vicksburg,  and  died  during  the  progress  of 
the  Civil  War ;  William  James,  a  phy^dan,  who  died  in  Selma,  Alabama ;  a 
daughter  who  died  in  Ireland ;  Reube^Wee  forward ;  a  daughter,  who  mar- 
ried, and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years  in  the  state  of  Iowa. 

'(II)  Reuben  Watt,  son  of  Robert  and  Isabella  (Donahue)  Watt,  was 
born  near  Dungarvan,  Ireland,  January  i,  1812,  died  December  5,  1885. 
He  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  parents, 
and  after  they  had  settled  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  he  attended 
the  district  schools  in  the  township  in  which  they  lived.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  he  purchased  all  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  home- 
stead farm,  and  in  1863  he  traded  it  for  a  grist  mill  on  Little  Beaver  creek, 
on  the  boundary  line  between  Darlington  and  South  Beaver  townships. 
Jesse  Martin  had  been  the  previous  owner.  The  mill  has  been  operated  in 
the  name  of  Watt  since  that  time  and  has  earned  a  widespread  reputation 
for  the  quality  of  the  flour  it  turns  out.  Mr.  Watt  was  a  staunch  Republican 
and  a  strong  Abolitionist.  He  served  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  more  than  forty  years  was  connected 
in  official  capacity  with  the  local  school  board.  He  married  Sarah  Ann 
Aylmer,  born  in  Queenstown,  Canada,  in  18 18,  died  in  1906,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Aylmer,  who  with  his  wife,  both  natives  of  England,  emigrated 
from  that  country  to  Canada.  He  was  the  father  of  a  large  family,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  wife,  removed  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  also  settled  in  South  Beaver  township.  His  children  moved  to  the 
larger  river  section  of  Pennsylvania,  where  several  of  them  purchased  an 
entire  township,  while  the  others  became  merchants.  The  mail  service  at 
the  time  was  not  in  its  present  well  ordered  condition,  and  in  the  course 
of  time  the  Watts  and  the  Aylmers  lost  trace  of  each  other.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Watt  had  children:  Thomas,  see  forward;  James,  lives  with  Thomas 
and  assists  in  the  mill  operations;  George,  a  carpenter,  lives  in  North  Gales, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  637 

Arizona ;  Samuel,  lives  at  Tombstone,  Arizona,  and  works  in  a  gold  mine ; 
Isabella,  married  Robert  Gilchrist,  now  deceased,  and  lives  in  Allegheny, 
Pennsylvania;  Margaret  Ann,  keeps  house  for  her  two  brothers,  Thomas 
and  James,  on  the  homestead.  George  and  Samuel  left  their  home  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1879,  and  have  been  prospecting  in  Nevada, 
Colorado  and  Arizona  since  that  time. 

(Ill)  Thomas  Watt,  eldest  child  of  Reuben  and  Sarah  Ann  (Aylmer) 
Watt,  was  born  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  25,  1841.  He  was  educated  in  the  Johnson  School  near  his  home. 
August  28,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  One  Hundredth  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  out,  July  26,  1865,  an 
honorable  and  creditable  record.  He  was  in  Grant's  army  throughout  the 
war,  and  was  in  the  Ninth  Corps  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  shoulder  by  a  bullet,  June  17,  1864.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  war  he  went  to  Iowa,  and  spent  somewhat  more  than  a  year  in  looking 
about  the  country.  He  then  returned  to  his  father's  mill,  in  the  operation 
of  which  he  assisted  until  the  death  of  his  father,  since  which  time  he  and 
his  brother  James  have  operated  it  together.  That  the  mill  has  a  reputation 
of  its  own  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  tlftt  people  come  from  hundreds  of  miles 
to  have  their  flour  ground  there.  The  buckwheat  flour  they  turn  out  has 
an  especial  reputation  of  its  own.  Mr.  Watt's  sister  and  brother  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Covenanter  Church  of  Darlington,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  at  East  Palestine,  Ohio.  He  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  and  his  brother  have  filled  a  number  of  township  offices.  Mr.  Watt 
is  not  married. 


The  WoodruflF  family  is  an  old  one  of  Connecticut,  the 
WOODRUFF    branch  in  Western  Pennsylvania  having  been  introduced 

into  that  section  by  Jemuel  Woodruff,  born  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  who,  deciding  to  leave  New  England,  the  family  home  for 
several  generations,  loaded  the  more  valuable  of  his  possessions  into  a 
wagon,  attached  thereto  one  horse,  all  of  his  live  stock  that  he  retained, 
and  with  his  wife  made  the  journey  to  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  died  in  1900,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six  years.  In 
this  county  he  engaged  in  furniture  making,  at  one  time  being  the  prcv- 
prietor  of  a  factory  devoted  to  this  industry,  and  was  also  an  undertaker, 
discontinuing  both  of  these  businesses  at  the  time  of  the  gold  discoveries  in 
California,  when  he  joined  the  westward  rush  in  search  of  sudden  riches, 
a  desire  only  realized  in  small  part.  He  married  Julia  Ann  Oatman,  bom 
in  Connecticut,  in  1810,  died  in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
about  1897.  Children  of  Jemuel  and  Julia  Ann  (Oatman)  Woodruff: 
Ellen,  died  in  1910;  George  Elmer,  of  whom  further)  ;  Alden,  died  about 
1898.  During  nearly  all  of  his  mature  years  Jemuel  Woodruff  held  member- 
ship in  the  Masonic  Order,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  one  of  the 
oldest  Masons  in  the  United  States. 


638  PENNSYLVANIA 

(II)  George  Elmer  Woodruff,  son  of  Jemuel  and  Julia  Ann  (Oatman) 
Woodruff,  was  bom  in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1842. 
His  business  has  been,  in  the  main,  lumber  dealing,  at  which  he  has  been 
successful  and  in  which  he  has  prospered.  A  Presbyterian  in  religion,  his 
political  faith  has  ever  been  Republican,  while  fraternally  he  affiliates  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  the  Masonic  Order,  belonging 
to  Rochester  Lodge,  No.  229,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He  married 
Savilla,  deceased,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Gilchrist)  Wolf.  Henry 
Wolf  was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  of  which  county  his  parents 
were  also  natives,  and  as  a  young  man  moved  to  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania, 
entering  the  hotel  business,  and  at  the  death  of  his  father-in-law  engaged  in 
the  management  of  the  hotel  that  comprised  part  of  the  estate.  His  later 
career  took  him  to  many  widely  separated  localities,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  retirement  he  was  engaged  in  business  at  Petersburg,  Ohio,  spending 
the  latter  years  of  his  life  in  East  Palestine,  Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred 
about  1882,  his  wife  dying  in  that  place  in  19C6.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  while  he  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
and  a  Republican  in  politics.  Children  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Gilchrist) 
Wolf:  I.  David,  a  hotel  proprietor,  dfed  in  East  Palestine,  Ohio.  2.  Mary, 
married  Louis  Reed,  and  died  in  March,  1913,  at  McKeesport,  Pennsylvania. 
3.  Kate,  married  William  Gillian,  and  died  in  Newcastle,  Pennsylvania.  4. 
Henry,  died  in  Butte,  Montana,  about  1890.  5.  John,  a  resident  of  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin.  6.  Savilla,  of  previous  mention,  married  George  El- 
mer Woodruff.  7.  Margaret,  married  Frank  Clifton,  and  lives  at  Knoxville, 
Pennsylvania.  8.  Jerry,  an  employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  died  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  June,  1913.  9.  Lillie  M.,  married  John  R.  Book,  and 
lives  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania.  10.  Jeannette,  married  William  Koch, 
and  resides  in  East  Palestine,  Ohio.  Children  of  George  Elmer  and  Savilla 
(Wolf)  Woodruff.  I.  Frank,  of  whom  further.  2.  Annie,  married  Frank 
G.  Throne.  3.  Belle,  married  Dr.  C.  W.  Thomas.  4.  Cora  L.,  married  Frank 
E.  Mathews. 

(III)  Frank  Woodruff,  only  son  of  George  Elmer  and  Savilla  (Wolf) 
Woodruff,  was  bom  in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
7,  1865.  After  a  public  school  education  in  the  institutions  of  his  birth- 
place, he  obtained  a  position  with  the  Rochester  Tumbler  Company,  his 
association  with  that  concern  extending  over  a  period  of  eighteen  years. 
He  passed  the  next  three  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Rochester  Glass  Com- 
pany, now  transacting  business  as  the  H.  C.  Fry  Company,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  with  the  Libbey  Glass  Company  of  Toledo,  Ohio.  For  two  years 
he  was  president  of  the  Woodruff  Glass  Mould  Company,  of  Toledo,  Ohio, 
after  which  he  became  sole  owner  of  the  Mould  and  Machine  Company  of 
Rochester,  Pennsylvania.  This  business  was  established  in  1906,  and  con- 
sists of  the  manufacture  of  experimental  machinery,  the  force  of  employees 
varying  from  fifteen  to  thirty.  Since  Mr.  Woodmff's  connection  with 
the  concern  its  scope  of  operation  has  been  widened,  its  equipment  im- 


%^p* 


I 


BEAVER    COUNTY  639 

proved,  and  its  activities  increased,  so  that  at  the  present  time  he  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  plant  that  yields  a  comfortable  income,  its  prosperity  and 
thriving  condition  resulting  from  the  earnest  labor  he  has  expended  upon 
his  business.     Mr.  Woodruff  holds  independent  political  views. 

Mr.  Woodruff  married,  December  i,  1892,  May  Menuez,  born  in 
Fredericksburg,  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  July  16,  1871,  daughter  of  Theodore 
and  Elizabeth  (First)  Menuez,  her  father  deceased,  her  mother  a  resident 
of  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  Children  of  Frank  and  May  (Menuez)  Wood- 
ruff: I.  Marie,  born  November  28,  1893.  2.  Elma,  bom  in  1897,  died  in 
1901.  3.  Rollin  L.,  born  June  21,  1901.  The  family  attend  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Rochester. 


The  Hotchkiss  family  came  to  this  country  from  Scot- 
HOTCHKISS     land,  and  while  but  a  few  generations  have  lived  here, 

they  have  been  recognized  as  citizens  of  sterling  worth, 
ever  ready  to  bear  their  full  share  of  the  responsibilities  which  came  to 
them.  In  Scotland  all  the  male  members  of  the  family  were  engaged  in 
the  occupation  of  coal  mining,  and  they  were  all  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Of  the  generation  we  have  first  on  record  we  know  there 
were  the  following:  Edward,  a  coal  miner,  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
but  later  returned  to  England,  where  he  died ;  John,  who  lived  and  died  in 
Scotland,  was  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Glasgow;  Michael,  a  coal  miner 
in  his  youth,  proprietor  of  a  hotel  subsequently,  came  to  the  United  States, 
but  returned  to  England  where  he  died;  Joseph,  see  forward;  Ellen,  who 
died  in  Scotland,  married  John  Hodgett,  who  died  in  New  York  City. 

(II)  Joseph  Hotchkiss,  of  the  second  generation  of  this  family,  was 
born  eight  miles  from  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  1810,  died  October  24,  1872. 
He  was  a  coal  miner  all  his  life,  at  first  in  his  native  land,  later  in  America. 
In  Scotland  he  held  the  position  of  foreman  or  mine  boss.  Both  of  his 
marriages  took  place  in  Scotland.  He  married  (first)  Mary  Love,  (second) 
Mary  Cranston,  born  in  England,  where  her  parents  were  visiting,  April 
24,  1828,  died  March  22,  1908.  She  was  the  niece  of  James  Moffit,  a 
Reformed  Presbyterian  minister,  and  daughter  of  James  and  Jennie  (Mof- 
fit) Cranston,  who  had  two  other  children:  Jane,  who  married  Thomas 
Sherry,  a  coal  miner,  and  came  to  East  Palestine,  Ohio;  John,  during  the 
Civil  War  enlisted  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  was  never  heard  from  again. 
Joseph  and  Mary  (Cranston)  Hotchkiss  had  children:  Janet,  who  mar- 
ried John  Huffman,  now  deceased,  is  living  on  a  farm  in  Darlington  town- 
ship; Edward,  a  coal  miner  and  lives  with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Huffman; 
Jennie,  now  deceased,  married  Finlay  Rhodes;  John,  a  coal  miner,  lives 
in  Burgettstown,  Pennsylvania;  James,  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  where  he  has 
been  baggage  master  for  twenty  years  at  the  Union  Station;  Joseph,  a 
prosperous  business  man,  proprietor  of  a  hardware  store  at  Dillonville, 
Ohio;  Michael,  see  forward.  By  his  marriage  with  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Hotchkiss  had  children:     James,  who  was  injured  in  the  mines,  died  at 


640  PENNSYLVANIA 

the  age  of  eighteen  years;  John  and  Edward,  died  young;  WilHam,  who 
emigrated  with  his  father,  is  a  coal  miner,  and  Hves  with  his  step-brother, 
Michael.  Joseph  Hotchkiss,  a  few  years  after  his  second  marriage,  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  and  settled  at  Cannelton,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  his  death  occurred. 

(Ill)  Michael  Hotchkiss,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Cranston)  Hotch- 
kiss, was  bom  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April 
5,  1868.  He  was  about  four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  his 
father,  which  left  his  mother  with  a  large  family  of  small  children  and  no 
means  of  supporting  them.  All  of  the  children  were  obliged  to  help  support 
the  family  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  as  they  were  very  poor,  and  they  have 
all  risen  to  very  comfortable  financial  circumstances.  Michael  at- 
tended the  public  school  at  Cannelton  for  a  short  time,  but  from  his  earliest 
years  was  obliged  to  devote  all  his  spare  time  to  work.  He  was  a  helper  in  a 
blacksmith  shop  and  worked  on  nearby  farms.  Mrs.  Hotchkiss  then  pur- 
chased forty-three  acres  of  land  from  the  Economites  in  Darlington  towti- 
ship,  and  Michael  devoted  all  of  his  time  to  the  cultivation  of  this 
farm,  which  he  developed  into  a  fine  piece  of  property.  Upon  the  death 
of  his  mother,  he  purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs,  and  still  lives 
on  it.  Later  he  purchased  another  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine 
acres,  adjoining  the  first,  and  is  very  successful  in  his  farming  operations. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  fruit  growing,  devoting  especial  time  and  attention 
to  the  production  of  peaches  and  apples.  He  has  set  out  approximately 
three  thousand  trees,  which  are  all  now  in  fine  bearing  condition.  His 
political  affiliations  are  with  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Hotchkiss  is  un- 
married. 


The  name  and  the  family  of  Beatty  seems  to  have  had  its 
BEATTY    origin  in  the  northern  lowlands  of  Scotland.     It  extended 

to  the  north  of  Ireland,  in  a  more  limited  degree  to  England, 
and  has  finally  spread  to  all  parts  of  the  world  to  which  these  countries 
have  sent  out  emigrants.  The  name  is  supposed  to  have  been  derived 
from  the  Latin,  Beatus,  which  has  also  made  Beaton.  But  the  name  of 
the  Cardinal  seems  not  to  have  been  popular  among  the  Scotch  Reformers — 
and  Beate  was  preferred — which  after  softening  the  final  letter  into  "ie" 
and  sometimes  duplicating  the  middle  consonant,  gave  either  Beatie  or 
Beattie — the  usual  spelling  in  Scotland.  In  migrating  to  the  other  island 
it  has  changed  the  termination  into  "y."  so  that  commonly  the  Irish  has  the 
spelling  Beaty,  or  more  frequently  Beatty.  In  going  into  the  southern 
kingdom  another  change  took  place,  by  eliminating  the  first  "e"  in  the  name, 
so  that  it  became  either  Baty,  Batty  or  Batey.  Such  are  some  of  the  vari- 
ations of  a  single  common  name,  and  by  the  spelling  it  may  be  generally 
known  whether  the  family  comes  from  Scotland,  Ireland  or  England. 

(I)   The  introduction  of  the  Pennsylvania  branch  of  the  family  into 
the  western  part  of  the  state  was   made  by   Jonathan   Beatty  and  two 


BEAVER   COUNTY  641 

brothers,  who  settled  on  farms  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  there  reared  large  families.  Jonathan  Beatty  married 
Margaret  McClure,  a  native  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
whence  they  came  to  Beaver  county,  and  had  children. 

(II)  William  Beatty,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Margaret  (McClure) 
Beatty,  was  born  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  2,  1832,  died  in  the  same  county,  February  2,  1890.  He  grew  to 
maturity  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  as  a  lad  attending  the  public  schools, 
and  in  young  manhood  assisting  his  father  upon  the  home  farm.  At  the 
death  of  his  father  he  inherited  eighty  acres  of  the  homestead,  land  now 
cultivated  by  his  son,  William  George  Beatty,  later  purchasing  the  Mc- 
Clure farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres,  upon  which  Frank  L. 
Huffman  now  lives.  He  afterward  sold  this  farm  and  purchased  the 
property  that  had  been  his  inheritance,  adding  thereto  eighty  acres  ad- 
joining. He  built  the  house  and  barn  that  are  used  at  the  present  time 
by  his  son.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  his 
wife  still  holds  membership,  and  with  her  was  a  familiar  figure  at  its 
services.  The  Republican  party  had  no  stronger  supporter  or  more  ardent 
sympathizer  in  that  locality  than  Mr.  Beatty,  and  with  vote  and  influence 
he  sought  to  further  its  best  interests.  He  discharged  the  duties  of  good 
citizenship  with  scrupulous  care,  and  was  held  in  excellent  repute  by 
all  who  were  acquainted  with  his  many  amiable  qualities. 

He  married  Sidney  Baker,  born  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  February  16,  1833,  who  survives  him,  aged  eighty  years, 
living  with  her  son,  William  George.  Their  marriage  rites  were  solem- 
nized April  22,  1852.  Sidney  Baker  was  the  daughter  of  Richard  and 
Catharine  (Thompson)  Baker.  Richard  Baker  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1799,  died  in  Beaver  county,  in  that  state,  December  2,  1882.  He  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Beaver  county  and  owned  a  farm  near  Hoytdale. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  played  a  prominent  part  in  affairs  of 
local  moment.  His  wife  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1807,  died  in 
Beaver  county,  October  9,  1884.  Richard  Baker  was  a  son  of  Robert 
Baker,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  early  to  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  With  his  wife,  Rachel  (Williams)  Baker,  he  is 
buried  in  Rocky  Spring  Cemetery,  near  New  Galilee.  Richard  and  Cath- 
arine (Thompson)  Baker  were  the  parents  of  twenty  children,  of  whom 
five  died  in  infancy.  Those  who  attained  maturity  were:  i.  James,  fought 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  died  in 
Andersonville  Prison.  2.  William,  a  farmer,  died  in  Big  Beaver  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Saphrona,  died  unmarried,  probably  in 
Michigan.  4.  Lorenzo,  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army,  died  from  wounds 
received  in  battle.  5.  Sidney,  of  previous  mlpntion,  married  William 
Beatty.  6.  John,  a  resident  of  Iowa.  7.  Robert,  killed  in  battle  in  the 
Civil  War.  8.  Thompson,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  lives  in  Nebraska. 
9.  Sarah,  married  Benjamin  James,  and  lived  until  her  death  in  Beaver 


642  PENNSYLVANIA 

county,  Pennsylvania.  lo.  Mary  Ann,  married  Fred  Straley,  and  lives  at 
Hoytdale,  Pennsylvania,  ii.  Nancy  Jane,  married  Tolbert  Swoggers,  and 
lives  near  Wampum,  Pennsylvania.  12.  Rachel,  married  George  Minner, 
and  lives  at  Wampum,  Pennsylvania.  13.  Matilda,  married  Walter  Craig, 
deceased,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  14.  Catharine,  married 
Robert  Mills,  and  resides  in  Nebraska.  15.  Wesley,  a  resident  of  Nebraska. 
Children  of  William  and  Sidney  (Baker)  Beatty:  i.  Alice  P.,  married 
George  Tarris,  deceased,  and  lives  in  West  Virginia.  2.  Laura  Emma, 
died  in  1888;  married  Robert  Newell,  likewise  deceased.  3.  John  F.,  lived 
for  a  time  on  the  old  homestead,  entered  the  employ  of  the  railroad  and 
met  his  death  in  that  service.  4.  James  R.,  a  farmer  of  Warren,  Ohio. 
5.  William  George,  of  whom  further.  6.  Mary  L.,  married  Isaac  Cox, 
and  lives  in  Homewood,  Pennsylvania.  William  and  Sidney  Beatty  were 
also  the  parents  of  three  other  children,  all  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

(Ill)  William  George  Beatty,  fifth  child  and  third  son  of  William 
and  Sidney  (Baker)  Beatty,  was  born  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Big  Beaver 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  15,  1867.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  and  completed  his  education  with  a  business  course  in  the 
International  Correspondence  Schools  of  Scranton.  His  first  position  was 
as  time-keeper  for  the  Clydesdale  Stone  Company,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  for  four  years.  In  1906  he  became  inspector  of  material  for 
Arthur  Koppel  Company,  a  position  he  still  holds.  In  connection  with  his 
business  he  conducts  general  farming  operations  upon  fifty  acres  of  the 
home  farm,  having  inherited  a  part  of  the  homestead  at  his  father's  death. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  placed  by  his  neighbors  in 
nearly  every  department  of  township  service,  filling  all  with  a  thoroughness 
and  reliability  that  fully  justified  the  repeated  choice  of  his  friends  and 
acquaintances. 

Mr.  Beatty  married,  September  4,  1889,  Olive  L.,  daughter  of  John 
and  Emeline  McCarter,  member  of  a  family  long  seated  in  that  locality. 
Children  of  William  George  and  Olive  L.  Beatty:  Elsie  May,  George 
Curtis,  Clement  Byron.    The  family  are  Presbyterians. 


Samuel  Harper  emigrated  from  Scotland  to  America,  with 
HARPER    his   wife   and   family,   in   1754.     There  are   some  grounds 

for  thinking  that  they  at  first  settled  at  what  is  now  Harper's 
Ferry,  Virginia.  For  many  years  prior  to  his  death  he  lived  on  a  farm 
in  Hopewell  township,  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Associate  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Guinston,  in  which  he  was  a 
ruling  elder  until  he  died.  He  marrie:d,  in  Scotland,  Jane  Strang,  and  had 
children:  i.  James,  who  married  but  the  name  of  his  wife  is  not  on  record; 
he  removed  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  some  of  his  descendants  were  living 
there  in  1854.  2.  Samuel  Jr.,  see  forward.  3.  Jane,  married  Archibald 
Richmond,  and  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter;  the  names  of  two  of 
the  sons  are  not  on  record ;  of  the  other  children :     John  married  


BEAVER   COUNTY  643 

Leeper,   and   had:     James,   William,   and   Esther;   Nancy,   married  

Nelson,  and  lived  at  Cambridge,  Ohio.     4.  Agnes,  married  Harris, 

and  settled  in  Virginia  at  a  place  now  known  as  Harrisville. 

(II)  Samuel  (2)  Harper,  son  of  Samuel  (i)  and  Jane  (Strang) 
Harper,  died  at  Kings  Creek,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  25, 
1814,  while  in  middle  life.  He  resided  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
for  eighteen  years  after  his  marriage,  then  removed  with  his  wife  and 
eight  children  to  Western  Pennsylvania,  settling  in  Hanover  township, 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1798.  He  purchased  Judge  Redick's 
mill  on  Big  Travis  Creek,  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 
After  his  removal  from  Washington,  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  he  and 
his  wife  and  children  united  with  the  Associate  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Kings  Creek,  then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  John  Anderson,  D.D., 
and  Mr.  Harper  was  shortly  afterwards  elected  a  ruling  elder,  an  office 
he  filled  faithfully  until  his  death.  This  was  caused  by  "camp  fever,"  and 
he  was  interred  in  the  "Old  Kings  Creek  Cemetery."  His  wife  died  of 
the  same  disease  eleven  days  later  and  was  buried  in  her  husband's  grave, 
their  tombstone  being  inscribed  "They  were  lovely  in  their  lives,  and  in 
death  they  were  not  divided." 

Mr.  Harper  married,  May  30,  1780,  Jane  Purdy.  Children:  i.  Agnes, 
born  October  10,  1782;  married  Captain  Robert  Leeper,  and  had  children: 
i.  Jane,  married  William  Carothers;  children:  Robert  Leeper,  William  C, 
Nancy  Jane.  ii.  Margaret  Ann,  married  (first)  William  Wallace;  chil- 
dren: Agnes  and  Ellen;  she  married  (second)  William  Savage;  children: 
Anna  Mary  and  Robert  Leeper.  iii.  Samuel  Harper,  married  Mary  Jane 
Miller;  children:  Joseph  W.,  Robert  N.,  Mary  Agnes,  Estella  S.,  Robert 
C,  James  L.,  Samuel  Harper  Jr.  iv.  Agnes,  married  Jonathan  Duncan; 
children:  Isyphena,  Robert  L.,  Samuel  H.,  James  R.,  Charles,  Janetta, 
Amot,  Frank,  Ida  Belle,  v.  Emeline,  married  Dr.  Hugh  Ramsey ;  children : 
Alvira,  Emmett  F.,  Agnes,  Mary,  Robert  L.  2.  Jane,  bom  August  31, 
1786;  married  Archibald  Richmond;  children:  i.  Narcissa,  was  a  teacher 
in  Pittsburgh  many  years  and  never  married,  ii.  Jane,  same  as  Narcissa. 
iii.  Mary,  married  Rev.  John  Gorsuch ;  one  son,  Alvin,  who  resides  in 
Pittsburgh.  Archibald  and  Jane  (Harper)  Richmond  died  of  cholera 
within  a  few  days  of  each  other  in  September,  1832,  and  are  interred  in 
the  Allegheny  City  Cemetery  with  their  three  daughters  and  their  son- 
in-law  beside  them.  3.  Archibald,  born  June  27,  1788,  died  November 
20,  1829,  buried  in  the  "Old  Kings  Creek  Cemetery;"  he  married.  May 
18,  1814,  Mary  S.  Hay;  children:  i.  Eliza  Ann,  born  November  7,  1817; 
married,  May  25,  1841,  George  Nevin;  children:  a.  Josephine,  married 
John  D.  Irons ;  children :  Eve,  who  married  Frank  McCune,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Beulah ;  Georgie  Anna ;  William ;  Samuel,  b.  Georgie  Anna, 
married   John   I.    Douds,   who   died   in   the   Civil   War   while   serving  his 

country ;  no  children,    c.  Angle  Margaret,  married  McClain ;  one  son, 

Alexander,     d.  Harper,  married  but  had  no  children,     e.  Asenath  Mary, 


644  PENNSYLVANIA 

married  T.  McCorkle;  children:  Mary  L.,  Anna  M.,  J.  T.  R.  f.  Jennie 
Sarah,  married  Henry  Cooper;  children:  Laura  Helen,  Ray  Cummings, 
Jean,  John  Fawsett.  g.  George  Orlando,  who  was  serving  his  second  term 
as  county  treasurer  at  the  time  of  his  death,  April  i,  1893;  married  Mar- 
garet Devern,  who  now  lives  in  the  state  of  Washington  with  her  children : 
Martin  Alfred  and  Anna  Eliza,  h.  Samuel  James,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  months,  August  25,  1856.  ii.  Samuel,  born  April  2,  1820,  died 
March  22,  1856,  buried  in  the  "Old  Kings  Creek  Cemetery;"  he  married 
Maria  Gould;  children:  Lillie  May,  Eddie,  Ada.  iii.  Maria  Denny,  born 
January  i,  1822;  she  married,  April  20,  1846,  Rev.  A.  G.  Shaffer;  children: 
a.  John  Douglas,  a  successful  lawyer  in  Allegheny  City,  (now  judge) 
married,  September  27,  1877,  Rose  Strouss,  now  deceased;  no  children,  b. 
Mary  Hay,  married  the  late  Rev.  James  M.  Fulton,  D.D.,  who  was  pastor 
of  the  Fourth  United  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Allegheny  City;  children: 
Charles  and  Alexander  Harper,  c.  Archibald  Harper,  married  Nellie 
Cook,  of  East  Liverpool,  Ohio ;  children :  John  Harper ;  Edward  Pressly, 
drowned  June  20,  1887;  Janette  Agnes,  died  July  13,  1888;  Walter  Pressly; 
James  Fulton;  Rose  Edna.  d.  Sarah  Janette.  e.  Anna,  married,  April 
23,  1890,  James  G.  Berry,  and  resides  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania; 
children:  Martha  Adele  and  John  Shaffer,  f.  Alexander  Pressly,  died  at 
San  Lucas  Springs,  Mexico,  iv.  John  Hay,  born  April  6,  1824;  is  un- 
married and  resides  in  California,  v.  Sarah  Jane,  born  January  6,  1826; 
she  married.  May  31,  1859,  William  Irons;  children:  a.  Joseph  Hanna, 
married  Nancy  Imbrie;  children:  Lawrence  Arville  and  Helen  Imbrie.  b. 
Harper  Samuel,  vi.  Drusilla  C,  born  July  i,  1827;  she  married  May  25, 
1850,  iSamuel  Anderson,  who  died  November  17,  1870;  children:  a. 
Alpheus  A.,  who  died  December  28,  1887,  married,  October  18,  188 1, 
Bella  C.  Norris,  who  died  October  11,  1884;  one  son,  Earl  C.  b.  Llewellyn 
A.,  died  September  21,  1854.  c.  Francis  S.,  died  October  15,  1859.  d. 
Eugene  E.,  died  October  15,  1859.  e.  Clarence  H.,  married,  February  10, 
1886,  Rachel  Love;  one  son  and  one  daughter,  f.  Charles  R.,  married, 
April  25,  1883,  Agnes  Brewer;  children:  John  E.  and  Samuel  H.  g. 
I-uella  M.,  married,  March  14,  1884,  William  T.  Hemphill;  child,  Curtis 
A.  h.  Alfred  J.  vii.  Archibald  Harper  Jr.,  died  at  Vicksburg,  Mississippi. 
4.  James,  see  forward.  5.  William,  born  March  28,  1793,  died  March  4, 
1822;  he  married  Jane  Proudfit,  of  Florence,  Pennsylvania,  and  left  no 
children.  6.  Mary,  born  July  3,  1795;  she  married,  September  7,  1815, 
William  McCandless;  children:  i.  Samuel  Harper,  born  January  27,  1817, 
died  January  20,  1862;  he  married  and  had  children:  a.  Mira.  b.  Reed, 
married,  has  two  daughters,  and  lives  in  York,  Nebraska,  c.  Lucian,  mar- 
ried, has  four  sons,  and  lives  in  Broken  Bow,  Nebraska,  d.  Nettie,  who 
died  July  i,  1890,  married,  and  her  three  children — Lona,  Marion  and 
William  Harper — live  at  McComb,  Illinois,     ii.  Margaret,  who  died  June 

28,  1854,  married  ,  and  had  ten  children,  of  whom  are  now  living: 

Jennie,  Louisa,  Mary.     iii.  William  Jr.,  died  January  13,   1863;  married 


BEAVER    COUNTY  645 

Sarah  Ann  Duncan;  children:  Mary,  married  and  had  one  child;  Arnott; 
Isa;  Thomas;  Hattie,  married  and  had  one  child;  William,  iv.  Jane,  mar- 
ried    Woods ;  children :  a.  Mary,  who  married  Losshord ;  chil- 
dren: Hattie,  who  married  and  has  children;  they  are  the  great-great- 
grandchildren of  William  and  Mary  (Harper)  McCandless.  b.  William, 
married  and  had  children :  Lillian,  Nellie,  William,  Hugh,  Sidney,  Ralph, 
Frederick,  Retta.     c.  John,  married  and  had :  Estella,  Cloyd,  Oliver,     d. 

Elizabeth,  married  Duncan,  lives  in  Knoxville,  Illinois;  one  child,  J. 

Winfield.  e.  Margaret,  f.  Thomas,  g.  Emma.  h.  Lena.  v.  Harriet  M. 
vi.  Sarah  P.  vii.  Mary.  7.  Esther,  born  January  15,  1798;  married  Hugh 
Leeper.  8.  Sarah  Purdy,  born  September  7,  1800,  died  at  Mount  Gilead, 
Ohio,  February  7,  1867;  she  married,  May  31,  1822,  Samuel  Pollock, 
born   1799,  died  in  June,   1874;  children:     i.   Martha  Jane,  who  died  at 

Mount  Gilead,  Ohio,  March   12,  1871,  married,  in  May,   1856,  Dr.  

Hay.  ii.  Samuel  David,  who  died  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  February  11,  1892, 
married,  March  20,  1851,  Mary  Jane  Taylor,  iii.  Maria  E.,  married,  Jan- 
uary 10,  1854,  G.  W.  Towesley,  and  lives  near  Lodi,  Ohio.  iv.  Joseph 
Harper,  who  has  been  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  at 
Mount  Gilead,  Ohio,  married,  November  28,  1861,  Orlinda  Taylor,  v. 
Rev.  Henry  G.,  has  his  home  and  pastoral  relations  near  Shelbyville, 
Indiana;  he  married  (first)  March  18,  1858,  Sarah  Wise,  (second)  Sophine 
Ethinger,  of  Munfordville,  Kentucky,  vi.  Emeline  L.,  who  died  June 
13,  1883,  at  Seville,  Ohio;  married,  February  20,  1862,  James  B.  Chapin. 
vii.  Louisa  A.  viii.  Sarah  Hortense,  married  F.  J.  Cox;  lives  in  Greens- 
burg,  Indiana.  9.  Joseph,  born  July  31,  1803,  died  unmarried,  1832,  and 
is  buried  in  the  "Old  Kings  Creek  Cemetery ;"  he  was  greatly  beloved. 

(Ill)  Major  James  Harper,  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and  Jane  (Purdy) 
Harper,  was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  20,  1790.  He 
was  also  a  miller  and  a  farmer.  He  was  a  major  in  the  old  commission, 
and  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  He  married  (first)  May  29, 
1817,  Elizabeth  Hay,  born  1791,  died  June  17,  1838.  He  married  (second) 
September  24,  1844,  Elizabeth  McBurney.  Children:  i.  Clementina,  born 
March  3,  1818,  died  December  25,  1851 ;  she  married,  in  1837,  Robert 
Scott;  children:  i.  David  Walker,  born  in  August,  1839,  died  1865;  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Duncan  and  had  one  child,  ii.  James  Harper,  bom  De- 
cember, 1841,  died  1865.  iii.  Elizabeth  Hay,  born  July,  1843,  died  1881 ; 
married  Marshall  McDonald,  now  deceased,  and  had  children:  Clemen- 
tine, deceased;  Luella,  deceased;  M.  Harry;  Jennie,  deceased;  Robert  C. ; 
Emma,  deceased;  Joseph  C. ;  Florence  I.;  Edward  N. ;  Roy,  deceased. 
iv.  Jane,  married  in  January,  1869,  John  T.  Wilson ;  children :  Clementina, 
Martha,  Andrew  Charles,  Elizabeth  Florence,  John  Walker,  David  Paul, 
Harry  Ernest,  Harper  Victor,  v.  Clementina,  born  March  12,  1847,  died 
1870.  vi.  Cyrus  Clark,  born  December  29,  1849,  died  August  25,  1854.  2. 
Anna  Burns,  born  June  4,  1819,  died  in  April,  1857;  she  married,  1841, 
Semple  Bubbett;  children:     Oliver  and  Annie,  deceased;  James  Harper, 


646  PENNSYLVANIA 

who  lives  with  his  wife  and  two  children  in  Chicago.  3.  Jannett  Strang, 
bom  July  28,  1822,  died  April  5,  1855;  she  married,  March  31,  1847, 
Samuel  McKibbin;  children:  i.  Vianna,  deceased;  married  February  24, 
1869,  W.  W.  Stewart;  children:  Ina  Vesta,  George  Knowles,  Wilbert 
Benjamin,  Samuel  Jessie,  Clyde  Vance,  ii.  Jannett,  died  May  31,  1850. 
iii.  Evaline,  bom  1850,  died  July  27,  1888;  married,  April  25,  1872,  J. 
Quincy  Vance;  children:  Harper  Patterson,  Ina  Mary,  Jennie  May.  iv. 
James  Harper,  died  June  19,  1853.  4.  James,  see  forward.  5.  Dr.  Joseph 
Thompson,  born  February  15,  1830,  deceased;  was  a  practicing  dentist  in 
Burgettstown,    Pennsylvania;    he    married    Elizabeth    Stewart;    children: 

Laura   Jannette,  married  Gayman  and  has   two   children;  William 

Stewart;  Nancy  Josephine,  married  John  Galbreath  and  has  one  child, 
Frederick  Joseph;  Sarah  Wood;  Edna  Adalene.  6.  David  Hay,  born 
February  24,  1832,  deceased;  married  (first)  August  21,  1856,  Almira 
Witherspoon,  bom  1834,  died  March  28,  1883;  children:  Helen,  bom 
March  17,  1858,  died  November  28,  1880;  Harry  McClelland,  born  August 
2,  1861,  died  November  26,  1863;  Frank  L.,  born  November  16,  1864. 
He  married  (second)  September  12,  1889,  Helena  Lindsay,  of  Salinesville, 
Ohio,  and  has  one  child,  Janette.  Children  by  second  marriage  of  Major 
James  Harper:  7.  Elizabeth  B.,  deceased;  married,  February  16,  1869, 
Alexander  N.  McCartney;  children:  Robert  Massey;  a  daughter  died  in 
infancy;  James  Harper;  Alexander  Orr;  Mary  Eliza;  Joanna  S.,  a  son 
died  in  infancy;  another  son  died  in  infancy;  Sarah  Thompson.  8.  Sarah 
Dickson,  deceased;  married,  December  22,  1874,  M.  L.  Armstrong;  chil- 
dren :  Jennie  L.,  Lyda  Myrtle,  Esther  Nellie,  Rena  Mary,  Harper  Patterson, 
Bella  Bernice,  Ina  Flora. 

(IV)  James  (2)  Harper,  son  of  Major  James  (i)  and  Elizabeth 
(Hay)  Harper,  was  born  June  i,  1828,  died  October,  18,  1908.  He  was  a 
miller  and  surveyor,  being  the  official  surveyor  of  Beaver  county  for 
twenty  years.  He  was  a  supporter  of  the  Whig  party,  and  a  member 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  (first)  September  19, 
1850,  Alice  Ann  Carothers,  born  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county, 
June  15,  1826,  died  July  3,  1893,  daughter  of  William  C.  and  Elizabeth 
(Gilliland)  Carothers.  He  married  (second)  1898,  Caroling  S.  Aley, 
who  died  June  3,  191 3.  Children:  i.  Mary,  born  July  12,  185 1 ;  never 
married.  2.  James,  born  October  15,  1854,  deceased;  he  married,  October 
30,  1890,  Matilda  A.  Wack,  who  died  in  Pittsburgh,  September  i,  1900; 
they  had:  Alice  Catharine,  Elizabeth  Enid.  3.  Clementina,  bora  April 
10,  1857,  died  October  7,  1876.  4.  William  Harvey,  see  forward.  5. 
Elizabeth  Ella,  born  April  21,  1862,  deceased;  married  Calvin  B.  Bell. 

(V)  William  Harvey  Harper,  son  of  James  (2)  and  Alice  Ann 
(Carothers)  Harper,  was  born  in  Hookstown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  24,  1859.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  accepted  a 
clerkship  in  a  store  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county.    Later  he  returned 


BEAVER   COUNTY  647 

to  his  grandfather's  farm,  where  he  resided  for  about  three  years.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  identified  with  the  insurance  business,  as  manager 
of  the  insurance  department  of  the  Beaver  Trust  Company,  an  office  of 
great  responsibility.  Mr.  Harper  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
being  raised  a  Mason  in  St.  James  Lodge,  No.  457,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  Beaver.  Mr.  Harper  married,  April  23,  1891,  L.  Luella 
Anderson,  daughter  of  Alexander  T.  and  Susan  C.  (Duncan)  Anderson, 
and  they  have  had  children:  Mary  L.,  born  April  2,  1897;  Ruth  E.,  born 
May  19,  1901.  The  family  resides  at  West  View,  above  Beaver  Borough. 
Mr.  Harper  and  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
he  has  held  the  office  of  ruling  elder  for  several  years. 


Thomas  White  was  born  in  Ireland  and  when  a  young  child 
WHITE    came  to  America  with  his  parents,  prior  to  the  War  of  the 

Revolution.  They  settled  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Thomas  White  enlisted  in  the  Continental  army  and  bore  his  share  bravely 
in  that  momentous  struggle.  He  also  traveled  extensively  for  that  time, 
on  one  of  his  trips  going  as  far  as  Mexico  and  encountering  many  dangers. 
At  one  time  he  was  held  up  by  a  band  of  robbers,  robbed  of  all  his  pos- 
sessions, and  held  prisoner  for  a  half  year.  Later  he  returned  to  Allegheny 
county,  where  he  bought  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  took  up  eight 
hundred  acres  of  land  from  the  government  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  this  is  still  in  the  possession  of  various  of  his 
descendants.  He  was  considered  a  very  wealthy  man  for  those  days.  He 
and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.     Mr.  White 

married  Martin,  who  was  also  a  child  when  she  came  from  Ireland 

to  America  with  her  parents,  who  became  farmers  in  Allegheny  county, 
Pennsylvania.  They  had  children:  James,  who  left  home  in  early  man- 
hood and  became  a  farmer  in  Texas ;  Jane,  married  Duncan ;  Susan, 

married  Bums ;  John,  see  forward ;  Joseph ;  Nancy,  married  Judge 

Caruthers. 

(II)   John  White,  son  of  Thomas   and  (Martin)    White,  was 

bom  at  Murdocksville,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  about  18 10,  and 
died  about  1900.  He  was  very  generally  known  as  "Squire"  White.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  township,  where  he  inherited  the  large 
landed  estate  of  his  father.  In  1850  he  sold  this  and  removed  to  Darling- 
ton township,  Beaver  county,  on  property  which  he  purchased  from  Jona- 
than Morris.  He  resided  in  the  brick  house,  erected  in  1837,  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  widow  of  his  son,  Thomas  Martin  White.  He  was 
engaged  in  stock  raising  on  an  extensive  scale,  rarely  having  less  than 
one  thousand  head  of  sheep  each  winter.  In  political  affairs  he  was  a 
Jeffersonian  Democrat,  and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years. 
His  religious  affiliation  was  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  more 
than  six  feet  in  height,  and  broad  and  powerful  in  proportion  to  his 
height.     Mr.  White  married  Polly  Burns,  born  near  Qinton,   Allegheny 


648  PENNSYLVANIA 

county,  Pennsylvania,  about  1820,  died  about  1898,  whose  parents  were 
natives  of  Scotland.  Children:  Thomas  Martin,  who  died  in  1909,  lived 
on  a  part  of  the  homestead,  and  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Elizabeth  Hall;  John  Burns,  see  forward;  James,  died  unmarried  at  his 
father's  home;  Mary,  married  Charles  Waterbury,  a  contractor  of  New 
York  City,  and  both  are  now  deceased. 

(Ill)  John  Burns  White,  son  of  John  and  Polly  (Burns)  White, 
was  born  in  Murdocksville,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  30, 
1832.  He  was  a  pupil  at  a  private  school  in  Murdocksville,  then  took 
special  lessons  in  penmanship  at  a  school  for  this  study  in  Pittsburgh,  and 
finally  attended,  for  several  terms.  Duff's  Business  College.  He  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Beaver  county  with 
their  family,  and  he  accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  with  the  railroad 
at  the  coal  mines  at  Cannelton.  Later  his  father  gave  him  a  portion  of 
the  farm,  and  to  this  Mr.  White  has  added  by  purchase  until  he  now 
has  a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres.  The  country  house  in  which  he  lives 
was  erected  by  the  Economites,  and  he  has  added  to  this  and  remodeled 
the  older  portion  until,  at  the  present  time,  it  is  a  most  commodious  and 
comfortable  mansion,  and  he  has  been  resident  in  it  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  He  has  been  very  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  on  an  extensive  scale,  and  has  amassed  a  large  fortune  by 
these  methods.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has  had  a  coal  and  clay  mine  in 
operation  on  a  portion  of  his  property. 

Mr.  White  married,  in  November,  1857,  Elvira,  born  in  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  James  Hofifman,  who  came  with  his 
wife  and  children  from  Allegheny  to  Beaver  county,  where  he  also  was 
successfully  engaged  in  farming.  Children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White :  John, 
manages  the  farm;  James,  married  Lillian  Patterson  and  has  one  child, 
Nancy  D. ;  Harry ;  Mary.  With  the  exception  of  James  all  of  these  children 
are  unmarried. 


The  American  ancestor  of  this  branch  of  the  Lockhart 
LOCKHART     family   is    likewise  the   revolutionary  member,   William 

Lockhart,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  having  come  to 
America  from  Ireland  prior  to  the  Revolution.  He  held  a  commission  as 
recruiting  officer  for  the  Continental  army,  and  when  Colonial  indepen- 
dence had  been  achieved,  moved  to  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  followed  farming  until  his  death.  He  married  and  had  issue,  two  of 
his  sons  being  Hiram,  Jephtha,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Jephtha  Lockhart,  son  of  William  Lockhart,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, October  12,  1793.  After  spending  his  boyhood  on  his  father's 
farm,  he  and  his  elder  brother,  Hiram,  went  to  the  western  part  of  their 
native  state,  settling  in  Beaver  county,  where  Jephtha  purchased  a  farm 
that  was  originally  a  part  of  the  Doak  tract,  now  resided  on  by  Samuel 
Scott.    He  here  erected  a  frame  house,  a  part  of  which  is  standing  at  the 


'  ^.  /^^- 


BEAVER   COUNTY  649 

present  time,  later  replacing  this  with  a  larger  and  more  substantial  dwell- 
ing. All  his  life  he  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Mill 
Creek.  He  married  (first)  Margaret  Lockard,  born  February  14,  1798; 
(second)  Ada  Applegate;  (third)  Mrs.  Lovina  (Applegate)  Davis,  a  sister 
of  his  second  wife.  Children  of  first  marriage  of  Jephtha  Lockhart: 
Armeneus,  Elizabeth,  John,  William,  of  whom  further,  Enos,  Joanna, 
Alexander,  Mary,  Margaret,  married  William  Doak,  deceased,  she  being 
the  only  one  of  the  nine  children  of  her  father's  first  marriage  who  is  living 
at  the  present  time  (1913).  Children  of  second  marriage  of  Jephtha 
Lockhart:  Jephtha,  lives  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska;  Eleanor,  deceased;  Sarah 
Hannah,  lives  near  Chicago. 

(HI)  William  Lockhart,  son  of  Jephtha  and  Margaret  (Lockard) 
Lockhart,  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  14,  1823,  died  April  29,  1912.  He  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  becoming  skilled  in  farming  by  his  activity  on  his  father's  property, 
he  adopted  that  as  his  lifelong  occupation.  He  owned  eighty-five  acres 
near  Hookstown,  and  there  spent  his  entire  life  with  the  exception  of 
nine  years  passed  as  a  resident  of  Hookstown.  He  was  also  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  forty-one  acres  of  land  in  Hanover  township,  which 
he  rented,  conducting  general  farming  and  stock-raising  operations  on  the 
home  farm.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  sympathy,  although  never 
very  active  in  public  affairs,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
his  wife  belonging  to  the  same  congregation.  His  manner  of  life  was 
plain  and  ordered  upon  principles  of  unswerving  justice  and  fairness  to 
all  with  whom  he  associated  or  came  into  contact.  His  friends  held 
him  in  high  esteem  for  his  many  admirable  qualities,  and  the  respect  of  his 
acquaintances  was  ever  granted  him  in  full  measure. 

He  married  Amanda  Whims,  born  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  2,  1832,  died  October  25,  1904,  daughter  of  Caleb 
and  Rachel  (Kerr)  Whims.  Caleb  Whims  was  a  son  of  David  Whims, 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  his  wife  being  of  Dutch  and  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 
Both  Caleb  Whims  and  his  wife  were  born  near  Hookstown,  he  spending 
his  early  years  in  the  family  of  Rev.  George  R.  Scott.  After  his  marriage 
he  lived  in  Greene  and  Hanover  townships,  his  death  occurring  in  Hooks- 
town, Mrs.  Whims  dying  in  Nebraska,  whither  she  had  gone  to  make  her 
home  with  one  of  her  children.  In  any  gathering  in  which  he  happened  to 
be  Mr.  Whims  was  conspicuous  because  of  his  remarkable  size,  his  weight 
being  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds.  He  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Hookstown  Presbyterian  Church.  Children  of  Caleb  and 
Rachel  (Kerr)  Whims:  Nancy,  lives  in  Kansas;  Cornelia;  Jane;  Sa- 
mantha,  lives  in  Nebraska;  Amanda,  of  previous  mention,  married  Wil- 
liam Lockhart;  Sarah,  a  resident  of  Monaca,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania; 
Joshua  Kerr,  died  in  California,  served  in  the  Civil  War  in  Company  H, 
One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
lost  an  arm  in  the  service;  Jasper,  died  in  Kansas,  served  in  the  company 


650  PENNSYLVANIA 

with  his  brothers  in  the  Civil  War,  receiving  a  wound  that  disabled  him 
in  the  same  manner;  Newton  C,  likewise  a  member  of  Company  H,  and 
at  one  time  captain  of  a  colored  regiment,  died  in  California.  Children 
of  William  and  Amanda  (Whims)  Lockhart:  i.  George  Washington, 
died  in  infancy.  2.  Francis  Marion,  died  aged  four  years;  was  the  twin 
of  George  Washington.  3.  John  W.,  a  retired  physician  of  St.  John's, 
Washington;  married  Isabella  Watterman.  4.  Sarah  Geneva,  deceased, 
married  (first)  David  Cummings,  (second)  David  C.  Cameron.  5.  David 
Oscar,  of  whom  further.  6.  Jesse  A.,  a  farmer  of  St.  John's,  Washington; 
married  (first)  Anna  Russler,  (second)  Ada  Blaine.  7.  James  R.,  a  car- 
penter of  Wellsville,  Ohio;  married  Lena  Poe,  who  claims  relationship  with 
Edgar  Allan  Poe,  the  celebrated  author,  and  descendant  of  either  Andrew 
or  Adam  Poe,  the  frontiersmen,  one  of  whom  killed  Big  Foot,  the  Indian 
chief.  8.  Charles  Fulton,  a  railway  engineer,  has  published  two  books  rela- 
tive to  his  hazardous  occupation ;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order ; 
married  Lottie  Poe,  a  sister  of  the  wife  of  his  brother,  James  R.  9.  Lidella 
Maude,  lives  with  her  brother,  David  Oscar,  on  the  home  farm;  she  at- 
tended the  common  schools ;  she  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

(IV)  David  Oscar  Lockhart,  fifth  child  and  fourth  son  of  William  and 
Amanda  (Whims)  Lockhart,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  As  a  youth  he  attended  the  public  schools 
and  Frankfort  Academy.  After  the  completion  of  his  studies  he  became 
a  farmer  and  followed  this  occupation  in  the  west  for  a  period  of  twelve 
years,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store. 
The  greater  part  of  his  western  residence  was  in  Nebraska  and  the 
Dakotas.  Since  returning  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  he  has  cul- 
tivated the  home  farm,  and  lived  thereon  with  his  sister,  Lidella  Maude. 
From  the  time  of  assuming  the  management  of  the  home  farm  until  their 
deaths  Mr.  Lockhart  gave  to  his  aged  parents  the  kind  consideration  of  a 
devoted  son.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


This  branch  of  the  McElvaney  family  of  Pennsylvania 
McELVANEY  has  had  but  a  short  residence  in  the  western  part  of 
the  state,  Daniel  McElvaney,  born  near  Philadelphia, 
being  the  first  to  make  that  region  the  scene  of  his  life's  activities.  He 
is  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  for  many  years  followed  his  occupation  in 
New  Galilee  and  Beaver  Falls,  changing  his  residence  between  the  two 
places  as  his  business  kept  him  in  the  one  or  the  other.  His  present  home 
is  Marion,  Ohio,  where  he  lives  alone,  having  survived  his  wife,  Mary 
Jane,  who  died  about  1880.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  and  formerly  worshipped  at  its  services  with  his  wife.  He  married 
Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Eliza  J.  (Paden)  Hudson,  who  claim 
membership  in  the  line  of  Hendrick  Hudson,  the  Dutch  navigator,  who 
first  explored  the  Hudson  river,  named  in  his  honor.  Robert  D.  Hudson 
was  an  early  settler  of  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  651 

and  became  the  possessor  of  a  large  and  exceedingly  fertile  farm,  whereon 
he  spent  his  entire  life.  He  had  a  son,  John  S.,  who  there  grew  to  man- 
hood, and  after  farming  for  a  time,  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in 
New  Galilee.  He  then,  in  partnership  with  two  friends,  named  Atchison 
and  Porter,  built  the  Upper  Ten  Mill,  but  after  two  years  he  sold  his 
interest  in  this  venture,  and  entered  the  mercantile  business.  In  this  line 
he  met  with  profitable  success,  and  to  accommodate  his  rapidly  increasing 
patronage,  he  erected  a  building  on  the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Washington 
streets,  his  place  of  business  until  his  retirement.  He  is  now  (1913) 
eighty-five  years  of  age,  and  lives  with  William  Herbert  McElvaney,  his 
grandson.  In  the  closing  years  of  a  long  and  useful  life  he  may  look 
with  approval  and  satisfaction  upon  the  works  that  he  has  wrought,  and 
find  them  good.  John  S.  Hudson  married  (first)  Eliza  J.  Paden,  who 
died  in  1882,  and  (second)  Mrs.  Maria  Rowe,  who  died  January  i,  1908. 
Children  of  John  S.  and  Eliza  J.  (Paden)  Hudson:  i.  James,  a  merchant, 
died  in  Denver,  Colorado.  2.  Milton,  an  employee  of  an  express  company, 
died  in  Petersburg,  Ohio.  3.  Mary  Jane,  of  previous  mention,  married 
Daniel  McElvaney.  4.  Albert,  met  an  accidental  death  in  boyhood.  Chil- 
dren of  Daniel  and  Mary  Jane  (Hudson)  McElvaney:  i.  William  Herbert, 
of  whom  further.    2.  A  daughter,  died  in  infancy. 

(II)  William  Herbert  McElvaney,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Jane 
(Hudson)  McElvaney,  was  born  in  New  Galilee,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, November  18,  1878.  As  a  boy  he  attended  the  public  schools  of 
New  Galilee,  later  the  Greersburg  Academy  at  Darlington,  completing  his 
studies  with  a  course  in  a  business  college  at  East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  He 
was  reared  in  the  home  of  his  Grandfather  Hudson.  As  a  young  man  he 
learned  the  barber's  trade,  moving  then  to  East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  In  1907 
he  returned  to  New  Galilee  and  has  since  there  resided,  engaging  in  the 
fire  insurance  business,  representing  at  the  present  time  the  Humboldt  and 
Hartford  Insurance  companies.  As  the  agent  of  two  of  the  most  reputable 
and  reliable  of  insurance  companies  he  has  met  with  very  favorable  results, 
covering  the  surrounding  territory  in  a  capable  manner  and  selling  much 
of  his  company's  paper.  In  1909  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  for  a  seven-year  term,  his  tenure  of  office  expiring  January 
I,  1916.  The  Masonic  order  is  the  fraternal  society  that  claims  his  mem- 
bership. Meridian  Lodge,  No.  411,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  East 
Liverpool  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  being  the  organizations  to  which 
he  belongs.  With  his  wife,  he  affiliates  with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Mr.  McElvaney  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  the  locality  in  which  he 
lives,  popular  with  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  has  attracted  com- 
plimentary comment  by  his  alert,  energetic  and  forcible  business  tactics. 

He  married,  November  24,  1904,  Daisie  Carrie,  born  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Oella  (Conant)  Cope.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McElvaney  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  Charles  Herbert,  born  Jan- 
uary 29,  1906. 


652  PENNSYLVANIA 

Milton  Smiley,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Koppel,  Beaver 
SMILEY  county,  Pennsylvania,  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and  was 
bom  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  December  2, 
1858,  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Beatty)  Smiley. 

Hugh  Smiley,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  but 
of  Scotch  descent.  He  brought  his  wife  to  America  and  settled  near 
Slippery  Rock,  Pennsylvania.  The  location  which  he  chose  for  his  home 
was,  when  he  moved  there,  an  uncleared  wilderness,  but  by  dint  of  hard 
labor  he  cleared  and  cultivated  the  property  and  transformed  it  into  a 
flourishing  farm.  William  Beatty,  maternal  grandfather  of  Milton  Smiley, 
was  a  native  of  Scotland  or  Ireland.  He  also  came  to  Pennsylvania  and 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  region  where  the  town  of  Koppel 
now  stands.  Like  Hugh  Smiley,  he,  too,  cleared  and  improved  wild 
property,  transforming  it  into  arable  land,  and  the  farm  which  was  thus 
the  fruit  of  his  labors  descended  to  his  son,  Milton  Beatty,  and  is  now 
owned  by  the  Koppel  Company. 

Andrew  Smiley,  father  of  Milton  Smiley,  was  born  in  the  year  1820, 
near  Slippery  Rock,  Pennsylvania,  and  lived  on  his  father's  farm  for  some 
years.  He  finally  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eleven  acres  in 
Big  Beaver  township  and  it  is  on  a  part  of  this  property  that  the  town 
of  Koppel  now  stands.  Here  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and 
here  he  died,  April  24,  1894.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Beatty)  Smiley,  was 
the  fifth  of  the  eight  children  of  William  Beatty  and  was  born  on  the 
old  Beatty  homestead.  After  her  death  Andrew  Smiley  married  (second) 
Ann  Ferguson.  He  was  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  prominent 
man  in  the  community,  and  served  for  a  time  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  an  elder  of  the 
same,  and  he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
To  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  Smiley  were  born  seven  children,  as  follows: 
Mary,  now  Mrs.  James  Sef ton,  of  Wichita,  Kansas ;  David,  deceased  ; 
Clarinda,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen ;  Abbey,  now  Mrs.  Coston  Burns,  of 
Ellwood,  Pennsylvania;  Milton,  of  whom  further;  Annie,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  John  Huffman,  of  College  Hill,  Pennsylvania;  James,  now  a 
resident  of  Springfield,  Ohio. 

Milton  Smiley  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  passed  his  child- 
hood and  youth  on  his  father's  farm.  When  he  was  of  an  age  to  be  actively 
employed,  he  took  up  farming  as  an  occupation  and  bought  a  portion  of 
the  old  homestead,  fifty-nine  acres,  which,  however,  he  eventually  sold  to 
the  founders  of  Koppel,  buying  out  in  turn  his  sister's  share  of  forty-two 
acres,  upon  which  he  erected  in  1909  a  comfortable  house.  In  the  year 
1912  he  became  the  general  foreman  of  the  Clydesdale  Stone  Company, 
a  position  he  still  retains,  and  in  which  he  employs  forty  men.  The  chief 
output  of  this  company  is  bridge  stone.  Mr.  Smiley's  farm  is  also  very 
profitable,  six  acres  of  it  being  devoted  to  fruit  and  the  remainder  to 
general  farming.     Mr.  Smiley,  like  his  father,  is  a  staunch  member  of  the 


BEAVER    COUNTY  653 

Republican  party,  and  like  father  is  active  in  politics,  having  served  his 
community  in  the  capacity  of  school  director  for  two  terms  and  as  su- 
pervisor for  one  term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Smiley  married,  September  16,  1885,  Elizabeth  Dunlap,  a  native 
of  Darlington,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Wallace  and  Lovena  Dunlap,  of 
that  place.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smiley  have  been  born  three  children,  as 
follows :  Leroy,  who  resides  at  home  and  is  employed  as  night  agent  by 
the  Pittsburgh  and  Lake  Erie  Railway;  David,  who  resides  at  home  and  is 
employed  at  Koppel;  Mary  Helen,  who  resides  at  home. 


John  Swick,  the  great-grandfather  of  Dr.  Swick,  was  born  in 
SWICK     New  Jersey.     During  the  Revolutionary  War  he  took  up  the 

cause  of  the  American  patriots,  and  served  his  country  with 
distinction  in  the  capacity  of  drum  major.  About  1790  he  came  to  Franklin 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  took  up  land,  cleared 
and  improved  it,  and  where  his  death  occurred.  He  married  a  Miss  Reno, 
and  by  her  had  the  following  children:  Jesse  Martin;  John,  of  whom 
further;  a  daughter,  who  married  a  Mr.  Reno;  Lucinda,  married  Godfrey 
Yahn;  Nancy,  married  Lewis  Yahn. 

(H)  John  (2)  Swick,  son  of  John  (i)  Swick,  was  born  in  Franklin 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1810.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  day,  and  was  brought  up  to  engage  in  farming, 
an  occupation  he  followed  all  his  life,  and  which  he  pursued  with  such 
success  that  he  was  considered  one  of  the  successful  men  of  his  day. 
Until  1850  he  rented  his  farm,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  in  North 
Sewickley  township,  and  there  remained  until  the  end  of  his  life.  He 
was  a  Whig  in  politics,  but  later  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  held  the  offices  of  school  director  and  supervisor.  In  religious  faith 
he  and  his  family  adhered  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  God.  He 
married  Nancy  Freed,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Mains)  Freed, 
and  by  her  had  the  following  children :  Addison ;  Jacob  F. ;  Margaret ; 
John,  died  in  Andersonville  prison ;  Daniel  W.,  of  whom  further ;  Mary  J. ; 
David  M.;  Eliza;  Moses  C. 

(Ill)  Daniel  W.  Swick,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Nancy  (Freed)  Swick, 
was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  October  i,  1843.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  that  region,  as  a  boy  attending  the  common  schools  and  assist- 
ing his  father  on  the  homestead  farm.  Later  he  established  in  the  grocery 
business  in  New  Brighton,  remaining  there  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years, 
and  catering  to  a  wide  and  prosperous  trade,  whose  patronage  had  come 
to  him  because  of  the  universally  business-like  and  courteous  reception 
he  ever  accorded  those  engaged  in  dealings  with  him.  After  this  long  stay 
in  New  Brighton  he  moved  to  North  Sewickley  township,  where  he  taught 
school  and  engaged  as  a  farmer.  About  thirty  years  later  he  retired  to 
his  home  in  Beaver  Falls,  where  he  has  since  lived  and  he  has  passed  his 


654  PENNSYLVANIA 

days  in  quiet  enjoyment  of  the  material  prosperity  that  has  come  to  him 
after  manly  participation  in  the  world  of  trade.  To  be  sure,  his  thoughts, 
too,  now  and  then  turn  to  his  military  career.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War  he  had  just  attained  the  age  at  which  youths  were  acceptable 
to  the  government  for  military  service,  and  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army, 
being  identified  with  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  First  Regiment  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry,  and  saw  service  at  Antietam,  Fredericksburg 
and  Chancellorsville,  these  three  being  the  most  important  battles  in  which 
he  was  engaged  during  his  two  years  of  service.  He  never  rose  above  the 
rank  of  private;  however,  it  was  the  men  of  the  line  of  his  stamp  that 
made  the  armies  of  the  North  as  well  as  of  the  South  the  terrible  fighting 
machines  they  were.  And  though  it  was  never  his  lot  to  lead  a  spirited 
charge  or  to  direct  a  campaign,  it  was  his  part  to  aid  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  brilliant  plans  that  matured  in  the  brains  of  our  geniuses  of 
war,  and  to  brave  the  hail  of  steel  and  the  flare  of  cannon  that  the  cause 
of  universal  freedom  might  conquer.  That  he  returned  from  the  front 
was  due  to  the  watchful  mercy  of  an  all-seeing  Providence,  for  the  call 
to  battle  ever  found  him  in  the  front  rank,  prepared  to  follow  his  leaders 
or  to  march  where  they  might  direct,  trusting  only  that  his  fate  was  kind. 
Because  of  his  military  service  he  is  eligible  to  and  holds  membership 
in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  his  Post  being  No.  164,  of  Beaver 
Falls.  In  political  faith  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religious  faith  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  he  having  been 
for  a  long  time  a  class  leader  and  an  officer  of  the  organization  of  that 
denomination  in  North  Sewickley  township. 

Mr.  Swick  married  Mary  Ann  Boots,  born  in  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, August  20,  1843,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Harriet  (Wild)  Boots. 
Samuel  Boots  was  a  native  of  England  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  making  his  home  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  grew  to  maturity  and  married.  His  occupations 
were  those  of  cabinetmaker  and  farmer,  and  these  he  followed  all  his  life, 
being  as  well  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  for 
which  he  held  frequent  services  in  that  locality.  Both  he  and  his  wife  died 
in  Beaver  county,  his  death  occurring  in  1896,  when  he  was  in  the  eighty- 
first  year  of  his  age,  and  his  wife  dying  in  1875,  aged  sixty-three  years. 
Children  of  Samuel  and  Harriet  (Wild)  Boots:  Maria,  Henry,  Elizabeth, 
Mary  Ann,  of  previous  mention ;  Amos,  George,  Nancy,  Amanda.  Children 
of  Daniel  W.  and  Mary  Ann  (Boots)  Swick:  i.  Minnie  I.,  married  J.  J. 
Stuber;  lives  in  Dougherty  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  2. 
Elizabeth,  married  E.  L.  Frazier;  lives  in  North  Sewickley  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Samuel,  lives  on  the  homestead  in  North 
Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Harry,  died  in 
1901.  5.  J.  Howard,  of  whom  further.  6.  William  A.,  a  teacher  in  the 
high  school  of  Monongahela  City,  Pennsylvania.  7.  George  B.,  lives  on 
the  homestead  with  his  brother,  Samuel. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  655 

(IV)  Dr.  J.  Howard  Swick,  son  of  Daniel  W.  and  Mary  Ann  (Boots) 
Swick,  was  born  at  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  August 
6,  1879.  In  his  youth  he  attended  the  public  schools,  later  enrolling  in 
Peirsol's  Academy,  where  he  completed  the  college  preparatory  course. 
For  five  years  after  his  graduation  from  this  institution  he  was  engaged 
in  the  pedagogical  profession,  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  entering 
Geneva  College,  where  he  took  a  two  years  course.  Medicine  was  the  field 
that  made  the  strongest  appeal  to  him,  and  as  it  became  necessary  for  him 
to  decide  upon  a  profession,  he  accordingly  matriculated  at  the  Hahnemann 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia,  whence  he  was  graduated 
in  1906.  During  the  last  two  years  of  his  course  he  served  as  interne  in 
the  Children's  Homoeopathic  Hospital  of  Philadelphia,  performing  the 
duties  of  this  position  in  connection  with  the  demands  of  his  college 
schedule,  which  was  in  itself  adequate  occupation,  and  sufficient  to  busy 
a  student  without  leaving  leisure  in  which  to  idle.  The  energetic  en- 
thusiasm that  prompted  him  to  undertake  this  double  burden,  as  well  as 
to  serve  two  months  as  an  interne  in  the  Pittsburgh  Homoeopathic  Hospital, 
has  marked  his  active  practice,  begun  in  Beaver  Falls  soon  after  he  received 
his  diploma  and  degree  from  the  Hahnemann  Institute.  Since  his  resi- 
dence in  Beaver  Falls  he  has  been  physician-in-charge  of  the  dependents 
of  North  Sewickley  and  Franklin  township,  and  has  likewise  been  a  member 
of  the  health  bureau  for  the  same  length  of  time.  To  a  large  extent  his 
practice  is  general  in  character,  although  he  is  a  specialist  in  the  diseases 
of  childhood,  having  made  that  branch  of  his  profession  the  object  of  the 
most  careful  study  and  investigation.  His  knowledge  of  his  profession  is 
wide  and  accurate,  and  his  large  and  growing  practice  is  ample  evidence 
of  his  popularity  with  his  townsmen.  Dr.  Swick  not  only  adorns  his  pro- 
fession in  Beaver  Falls,  but  he  is  likewise  a  willing  and  useful  worker 
in  the  cause  of  civic  advancement.  Health  is  necessary  to  growth;  and 
by  his  services  he  is  protecting  the  health  of  the  community  as  a  member 
of  the  health  bureau,  and  is  safeguarding  its  inhabitants  from  epidemics,  as 
far  as  lies  within  his  power,  by  his  advocacy  of  sanitary  improvements  and 
his  strict  surveillance  of  conditions  in  the  public  schools.  His  medical 
societies  are:  The  Beaver  County  and  Pennsylvania  State  Homoeopathic 
and  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy.  His  political  support  is 
given  to  the  Republican  party,  and  he  also  affiliates  with  the  Protective 
Home  Circle,  American  Insurance  Union,  and  the  Masonic  Order,  belong- 
ing to  Beaver  Falls  Lodge,  No.  662,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Harmony 
Chapter,  No.  206,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  Beaver  Valley  Commandery,  No. 
84,  Knights  Templar. 

Dr.  Swick  married,  September  19,  1906,  Esther  L.  Duncan,  born  in 
North  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Sarah  Duncan.    Children :    Charles  Emerson  and  Florence  Irene. 


6s6  PENNSYLVANIA 

While  not  a  native  born  son  of  Pennsylvania,  William  H.  Rail, 
RALL  of  Brighton  township,  descends  from  parents  both  born  in  this 
state.  He  is  the  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Coy)  Rail,  who 
prior  to  moving  to  Ohio  resided  at  Hollidaysburg,  Pennsylvania,  where 
William  Rail  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop.  He  had  an  established  business 
there,  but  when  the  Mahoning  canal  was  begun,  he  moved  to  Girard,  Ohio, 
to  take  part  in  its  construction.  He  was  an  expert  smith  and  found 
abundant  opportunity  to  display  his  skill  in  forging  the  plates,  locks,  bolts, 
nuts  and  spikes  used  at  the  locks  and  dams  along  the  route  of  the  canal. 
After  the  canal  was  completed  and  his  services  no  longer  required,  he 
opened  a  shop  in  Girard,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  general  smith  until 
his  death  in  1854.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Disciples 
of  Christ,  both  active  workers,  and  faithful  and  consistent  Christians. 
Margaret  (Coy)  Rail  long  survived  her  husband,  but  did  not  again  marry, 
finally  passing  away  in  the  year  1870.  Children:  Lorenzo,  died  in  child- 
hood; Angeline,  died  in  childhood;  Mary  Jane,  deceased,  married  Thomas 
Randolph;  Lovanchia,  died  in  Wellsville,  Ohio,  in  1912,  married  John  O. 
H.  McNamee ;  Albert,  killed  in  an  accident  on  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan 
Southern  Railroad,  a  brakeman;  Alvernon,  married  Theophilus  Ferguson, 
and  resides  at  Girard,  Ohio;  William  H.,  of  whom  further. 

William  H.  Rail,  youngest  of  the  children  of  William  and  Margaret 
(Coy)  Rail,  was  born  at  Girard,  Ohio,  October  14,  1853.  He  obtained  a 
public  school  education,  and  began  life  as  a  wage  earner  in  the  employ  of 
a  railroad  company.  He  acquired  a  familiar  knowledge  of  machinery  and 
its  operation,  finally  becoming  a  stationary  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the 
Wellsville  Plate  and  Sheet  Iron  Company,  a  position  he  held  for  five  years. 
From  the  engine  room  he  graduated  to  the  rolling  department,  working  as  a 
bar  roller  from  1885  until  1903.  He  had  always  been  a  man  of  thrift, 
saving  his  earnings,  and  in  1893  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
eight  acres  in  Brighton  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  These 
acres  he  had  leased  to  others  ever  since  becoming  their  owner,  but  in 
1903  he  abandoned  mill  work  and  moved  to  his  farm.  He  erected  a  new 
barn,  made  other  improvements,  and  now  has  a  well  cultivated  fertile  farm 
devoted  to  general  farming  purposes  and  the  breeding  of  a  high  grade  of 
stock.  While  not  reared  to  farm  labor  he  has  used  wise  judgment  and 
painstaking  care  in  his  operations,  feeling  his  way  until  now  he  has  the 
knowledge  and  experience  necessary  to  insure  success.  He  has  prospered 
both  as  iron  worker  and  farmer,  the  proof  being  his  well  kept  and  profitable 
estate.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  so  gained  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  his  neighbors  that  he  is  now  serving  them  as  township 
supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  with  his  family  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Rail  married,  July  3,  1882,  Elizabeth  C.  Booth,  at  Bridgewater, 
Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Eliza  (McCabe)  Booth.    Levi  Booth 


BEAVER   COUNTY  657 

was  born  in  Bridgewater,  Connecticut,  coming  to  Western  Pennsylvania 
when  a  young  man,  there  marrying,  but  later  moving  to  Edinburg,  Ohio. 
He  was  a  dry  goods  merchant  and  late  in  life  established  a  store  in 
Rochester,  Pennsylvania,  having  his  residence  in  Bridgewater,  nearby 
His  wife,  Eliza  (McCabe)  Booth,  was  born  in  Coraopolis,  Pennsylvania. 
Children  of  William  H.  and  Elizabeth  C.  (Booth)  Rail:  i.  Howard  T., 
resides  on  the  home  farm,  his  father's  assistant;  married  (first)  Mary 
Robinson,  who  bore  him  one  child,  Helen;  married  (second)  Pauline 
Geibel,  who  bore  him  two  children:  Albert,  deceased;  William,  living.  2. 
Wade  T.,  also  an  assistant  on  the  home  farm;  married  Mary  Ann  Holt. 
3.  George  W.  4.  Blanche  L.,  married  L.  C.  Wise  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  one  child;  resides  in  Pittsburgh.    5.  Melda. 


The  Ramseys  are  representatives  of  a  family  probably  of 
RAMSEY     Celtic  origin,  which  has  furnished  much  valuable  citizenship 

to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  contributed  greatly 
to  its  industrial  development.  Various  members  of  the  family  have  followed 
diversified  callings — mechanics,  tradesmen,  farmers,  principally  the  latter. 
They  lived  east  of  the  Allegheny  mountains  for  many  years. 

(I)  Robert  Ramsey,  the  first  of  the  line  herein  recorded,  was  born 
in  Maryland.  He  traveled  across  the  mountains  in  the  early  pioneer  days 
of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  located  in  Washington  county,  which 
at  that  time  extended  as  far  north  as  the  Ohio  river.  He  married  Mary 
Michel,  who  bore  him  fifteen  children,  six  sons  and  nine  daughters,  all 
married  but  one,  all  had  good-sized  families,  and  all  but  one  attained  an 
age  of  more  than  sixty  years.  The  oldest  son,  Rev.  James  Ramsey,  D.D., 
was  a  professor  in  the  Seceder  Theological  Seminary  at  Canonsburg  and 
pastor  of  the  Canonsburg  Seceder  Church  for  forty  years.  Robert  Ramsey 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Kings  Creek  Seceder  Church,  also  one 
of  its  elders. 

(H)  Robert  (2)  Ramsey,  son  of  Robert  (i)  Ramsey,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  in  1780,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Pigeon  Creek,  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1789,  and  they  later  settled  in  Hanover 
township,  same  county,  on  the  farm  later  owned  by  Thomas  Ramsey,  now 
deceased.  After  his  marriage  Robert  Ramsey  Jr.  moved  to  near  Youngs- 
town,  Ohio,  and  subsequently  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  James  and  Joseph  Ramsey.  He  was  twice  married, 
first  to  Susannah  Leeper,  the  second  time  to  a  widow,  Mrs.  Deborah 
(Stephens)  Whitehill.  Children:  Robert,  lived  on  the  homestead  until 
his  death,  unmarried;  James,  of  whom  further;  William,  died  on  his  farm 
near  Hookstown;  Mary,  married  Robert  Cross,  and  died  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania;  Eliza,  married,  her  husband's  surname  being  the 
same  as  her  own,  and  died  in  Hanover  township;  Eli,  of  whom  further; 
James,  the  owner  of  a  farm  near  Hookstown,  where  he  died. 

(Ill)    James  Ramsey,   son   of   Robert    (2)   and   Susannah    (Leeper) 


658  PENNSYLVANIA 

Ramsey,  was  born  near  Youngstown,  Ohio,  in  1812,  died  in  1887,  in  his 
seventy-fifth  year.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  which  he  worked  a  few  years,  but  this  not  proving 
to  his  liking,  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  in  1847  purchasing  a  part 
of  the  old  homestead  farm  from  Thomas  Moore,  his  wife's  brother,  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  At  first  he  had  but  seventy-five 
acres  of  land,  but  he  increased  this  by  successive  purchases,  until  he  had 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Stock  raising  also 
engaged  a  large  amount  of  his  attention,  and  he  was  very  successful  in  this 
enterprise.  Mr.  Ramsey  married  Isabel  Martha  Moore,  born  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  18 16,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Jeannette  (Mc- 
CoUough)  Moore,  and  granddaughter  of  Robert  Moore,  who  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  where  he  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  land,  a  part  of  which  is  owned  by  the  Ramsey  brothers,  having 
been  in  the  family  line  considerably  more  than  a  hundred  years.  Samuel 
Moore  settled  on  part  of  his  father's  farm;  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812;  he  married,  in  1799,  Jeanette,  daughter  of  Alexander  McCuUough, 
a  pronounced  Scotchman  both  in  lineage  and  character,  familiarly  called 
"Ould  Sawney;"  he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Mill  Creek  Church,  in 
which  he  served  as  elder;  he  died  in  1830,  noted  for  his  faith  and  piety. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  Children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ramsey:  Samuel  M.,  of  whom 
further;  Susan  Mary,  bom  1852,  died  in  1905,  married  Dr.  George  Christler, 
of  Hookstown,  Pennsylvania;  Robert  Morton,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Samuel  M.  Ramsey,  son  of  James  Ramsey,  was  born  on  the  farm 
in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  2,  1849.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
his  entire  life  has  been  spent  on  the  homestead  farm.  This  farm  is 
conducted  by  Samuel  and  Robert  M.  Ramsey,  they  conducting  their  opera- 
tions under  the  name  of  Ramsey  Brothers.  They  now  have  under  cultiva- 
tion upward  of  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  of  land,  and  their 
products  are  considered  as  among  the  best  of  their  kind  in  that  section  of 
the  country.  Mr.  Ramsey  is  a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Chester,  West  Virginia. 

(IV)  Robert  Morton  Ramsey,  son  of  James  Ramsey,  was  born  on  the 
homestead  farm  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April 
I,  1858,  and  his  entire  life  has  been  spent  there.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  has  associated  himself  with  his  brother,  Samuel  M.,  in 
the  management  of  the  farm.  The  brothers  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  Samuel  M.  being  a  member  of  the  session  for  over  thirty 
years  and  has  represented  the  congregation  in  the  general  assembly.  Robert 
M.  Ramsey  is  a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Midland.  He  mar- 
ried, August  10,  1899,  Mrs.  Alice  Holmes,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
(Brower)  Todd,  of  Green  Garden,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased,  Mr.  Todd  having  been  one  of  the  most  prominent 


BEAVER    COUNTY  659 

men  of  the  county,  serving  as  commissioner  of  Beaver  county.  Mrs. 
Ramsey  has  one  daughter  by  her  former  marriage,  Helen  Holmes. 

(HI)  Eli  Ramsey,  son  of  Robert  (2)  and  Deborah  ( Stephens- White- 
hill)  Ramsey,  was  born  in  Hanover  tow^nship,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  3,  1822,  died  there  in  July,  1899.  He  spent  his  youth  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  birthplace  and  upon  the  death  of  his  father  inherited  one- 
half  of  the  old  homestead,  there  making  his  life-long  home.  He  was  a 
successful  farmer,  bore  an  excellent  reputation  among  his  neighbors,  and 
was  deeply  interested  in  all  that  pertained  to  the  public  life  of  the  township, 
particularly  things  political.  He  was  a  staunch  Republican  and  among 
his  other  public  services  was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  With  his  wife  he  was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  married  (first)  Elizabeth  Stephenson,  who  died  June  23,  1850;  (sec- 
ond) Mary  E.  Moore,  who  died  April  28,  1893.  Mary  E.  Moore  was  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Eliza  (McCready)  Moore,  both  natives  of  Hooks- 
town,  Pennsylvania.  Andrew  Moore  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  near  Hookstown,  where  both  he  and  his 
wife  died,  and  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  Children  of  Andrew  and  Eliza 
(McCready)  Moore:  Joseph  M.,  died  on  his  farm  which  adjoined  the  old 
homestead;  William,  married  a  Miss  Moore,  and  spent  his  life  on  the 
homestead;  Belle  M.,  married  John  Nickle,  deceased,  and  hves  in  Hanover 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  Margaret,  married  David  Craig, 
and  lives  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania ;  Lizzie,  died 
unmarried;  Ellen,  died  unmarried;  Annie,  married  Hampton  R.  Massey, 
and  lives  on  the  Moore  homestead ;  Mary  E.,  of  previous  mention,  married 
Eli  Ramsey.  Children  of  Eli  and  Elizabeth  (Stephenson)  Ramsey:  Thomas 
S.,  Robert  M.,  Louis,  Elizabeth  J.,  died  in  infancy,  all  now  deceased. 
Children  of  second  marriage  of  Eli  Ramsey:  James  P.  M.,  lives  on  a 
part  of  the  Ramsey  homestead;  Andrew  G.,  lives  in  Hancock  county,  West 
Virginia,  just  across  the  Pennsylvania  line,  married  Laura  Whitehill,  de- 
ceased; Joseph  Wilson,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Joseph  Wilson  Ramsey,  youngest  child  of  Eli  and  Mary  E. 
(Moore)  Ramsey,  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, September  30,  1871.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
township  and  spent  his  youthful  life  on  the  farm,  later  taking  up  its 
management  and  finally  becoming  its  owner.  The  ground  is  exceedingly 
fertile  and  he  has  had  extraordinarily  good  success  with  his  general  farming 
operations.  In  addition  to  farming  he  raises  a  great  deal  of  stock,  from 
which  he  realizes  a  comfortable  income.  His  political  creed  is  Republican, 
and  as  a  member  of  this  party  he  has  served  the  county  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  past  three  years.  With  his  wife  he  is  a  member  of  the  Mill 
Creek  Presbyterian  Church,  and  assists  in  the  direction  of  the  material 
affairs  of  that  organization  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees.  He 
is  popular  in  the  neighborhood,  and  respected  for  his  manly,  upright  char- 
acter, holding  a  foremost  position  in  the  township. 


66o  PENNSYLVANIA 

He  was  married  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  1900,  to  Wilda  V.  Cameron, 
born  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of 
Thomas  M.  and  Agnes  (Chapman)  Cameron.  Children  of  Joseph  Wilson 
and  Wilda  V.  Ramsey:  Gladys  E.,  Dessa  A.,  Joseph  M.,  Kenneth,  Wayne, 
Dorothy. 


The  Powell  family  has  been  resident  in  the  state  of  Penn- 
POWELL    sylvania  for  a  number  of  generations.     It  is  of  record  that 

bearers  of  this  name  came  from  Wales  to  New  England  in 
the  early  Colonial  days,  but  whether  the  branch  here  under  discussion  is 
related  to  the  New  England  family  or  whether  it  came  to  America  at  a 
later  date  cannot  be  established  with  any  degree  of  certainty. 

(I)  Henry  Powell  was  a  resident  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  there  married  and  had  children. 

(II)  Ivan  Powell,  son  of  Henry  Powell,  was  bom  near  Knob,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  at  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Feb- 
ruary I,  191 1.  He  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  in  his  earlier  business  years  was  a  blacksmith.  Later 
he  established  himself  in  a  general  store  in  Knob,  Beaver  county,  and  also 
had  charge  of  the  post  office.  In  1882  he  removed  to  Rochester,  Beaver 
county,  being  identified  with  the  line  of  blacksmithing,  and  retired  some 
time  prior  to  his  death.  He  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democratic 
party,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Powell 
married  Mary  Jane  KcKee,  who  was  born  in  Allegheny  or  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  children :  Ella,  now  deceased,  married, 
Harry  Aten ;  Sidney  and  Anna,  living  in  Beaver  Falls,  Beaver  county  ; 
James,  of  Geneva,  Ohio;  Elmer,  of  Steubenville,  Ohio;  Addison,  lives  in 
Rochester  township,  Beaver  county;  Ira,  of  further  mention. 

(III)  Ira  Powell,  son  of  Ivan  and  Mary  Jane  (McKee)  Powell,  was 
born  at  Knob,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  29,  1877.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  Rochester  borough,  and  upon  the  completion 
of  his  education  commenced  to  assist  his  father  in  the  shop  of  the  latter. 
In  1893  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Rochester  Tumbler  Works,  in  the 
glass  cutting  department,  remaining  with  this  concern  until  1902.  He  then 
formed  a  connection  with  the  H.  C.  Fry  Glass  Company,  as  foreman  of  the 
cut  tumbler  department,  continuing  in  this  position  until  1905.  In  that  year 
he  started  in  the  grocery  and  feed  business  at  No.  451  New  York  avenue, 
Rochester,  and  has  been  successfully  identified  with  this  since  that  time. 
Mr.  Powell  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  and  incorporators  of  the  Un- 
Gro-Co  Store  Company,  operating  a  chain  of  stores  throughout  the  Beaver 
Valley  and  is  treasurer  of  the  organization. 

The  company  takes  it  name  from  the  "Un-Gro-Co"  merchandise  line, 
the  largest  exclusive  line  of  food  commodities  and  household  necessities 
of  dependable  quality  and  character  ever  ofifered  the  consuming  public,  of 
which  this  company  owns  and  controls  the  exclusive  sale  in  specific  terri- 


BEAVER   COUNTY  66i 

tory.  This  company  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  and  con- 
ducting Un-Gro-Co  Retail  Grocery  Stores  in  the  cities  of  Rochester,  Monaca, 
New  Brighton,  Beaver  Falls,  Freedom,  Conway,  Aliquippa,  Woodlawn,  Bea- 
ver, West  Bridgewater,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  such  other  towns  as  in  the 
judgment  of  the  board  of  directors  would  be  advisable.  The  purpose  of 
the  company  is  to  purchase  in  different  localities,  established  stores,  which 
have  a  good  business  and  good  location,  or  to  open  entirely  new  stores  with 
good  locations,  equip  each  of  its  stores  and  markets  with  all  of  the  most  mod- 
ern conveniences,  with  the  idea  in  view  of  serving  the  greatest  number  of 
patrons  and  friends  with  the  smallest  possible  cost  to  the  company.  Each  store 
will  be  managed  by  competent  managers,  knowing  the  trade  and  patrons  per- 
sonally, their  responsibility  and  credit  standing,  and  when  in  the  judgment  of 
the  management  a  patron  is  eligible  to  credit  they  will  be  given  a  two  weeks 
or  monthly  credit,  and  merchandise  will  be  sold  them  at  the  very  lowest 
prices  consistent  with  the  kind  and  quality  of  merchandise  they  buy.  A 
discount  will  be  allowed  each  customer  of  3%  on  all  cash  purchases  made, 
checks  will  be  given  with  each  cash  transaction,  and  when  these  3%  discount 
checks  amount  to  $1.00  or  more,  they  will  be  redeemed  by  the  Company 
in  cash  or  merchandise.  Cash  coupon  purchase  books  will  be  sold  by  the 
company  in  denominations  of  $5.00,  $10.00,  $20.00  and  $50.00  for  cash 
at  5%  discount  to  consumers  and  patrons.  The  company  will  handle 
in  large  quantities,  flour,  feed,  produce  of  all  kinds,  the  finest  lines  of 
staple,  standard  and  fancy  grocery  merchandise,  together  with  all  the 
table  delicacies,  and  in  addition  to  all  of  this  the  entire  line  of  Un-Gro-Co 
merchandise,  the  largest,  handsomest,  purest  line  of  food  commodities 
and  household  necessities  of  dependable  quality  and  character  ever  offered 
the  consuming  public;  each  package,  can,  container  or  article  containing 
a  cash  redeemable  coupon  which  averages,  on  the  whole  line  throughout, 
a  discount  of  10%  in  cash  to  the  consumer. 

The  business  ability  of  Mr.  Powell  has  been  recognized  by  his  fellow 
citizens  by  his  election  to  office  as  president  of  the  Retail  Merchants'  As- 
sociation. He  has  also  been  chosen  as  president  of  The  Old  Home  Week 
Association.  For  many  years  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  political  matters 
in  behalf  of  the  Republican  party,  and  was  a  member  of  the  town  council 
for  three  years.  While  a  member  of  this  honorable  body  he  was  chosen 
as  its  president,  although  he  was  the  youngest  member  at  the  time.  At 
present  he  is  doing  excellent  work  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  school 
directors,  and  is  president  of  this  body.  His  religious  affiliation  is  with 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  and  is  also  vice-president  of  the  church 
council  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  United  Order  of  American  Mechanics, 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

Mr.  Powell  married,  August  24,  1899,  Orpha  Duncan,  of  Rochester, 
who  was  born  in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  they  have  children:  Beatrice 
Elizabeth  and  Zeta  Mary. 


662  PENNSYLVANIA 

Among  the  founders  of  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
GAILEY  sylvania,  were  Joseph  and  EHzabeth  Gailey,  of  EngHsh  de- 
scent. It  is  probable  that  they  moved  thither  from  a  nearby 
county,  but  no  available  records  give  any  clue  as  to  their  former  residence. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acres  of  land  in  the  township  which  he  cleared,  cultivated,  and  improved 
by  the  erection  of  buildings.  His  death  occurred  thereon  about  1855. 
Children  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Gailey,  all  deceased:  James,  Sarah, 
Maria,  William,  of  whom  further,  and  Angeline. 

(II)  William  Gailey,  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Gailey,  was  born 
in  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  obtained  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  township  and  there  spent  his  early  life, 
making  that  place  his  home  for  a  short  time  after  his  marriage.  He  later, 
however,  moved  to  South  Beaver  township,  purchased  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  acres  of  land,  and  there  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  over  eighty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  a  Republican  in 
politics  and,  as  was  his  wife,  a  member  of  the  Four  Mile  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  married  Mary  Moore,  born  in  Ohio  township,  Beaver-  county, 
Pennsylvania,  died  in  South  Beaver  township,  same  county,  aged  over 
seventy-five  years,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Moore.  Her  parents 
were  early  residents  of  Ohio  township,  where  he  was  a  farmer,  owning 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres,  where  both  lived  and  died. 
Children  of  William  and  Mary  Moore:  Mary,  of  previous  mention,  mar- 
ried William  Gailey;  John,  a  farmer  of  Beaver  county,  died  aged  seventy- 
one  years;  Silas,  died  in  1913,  aged  ninety-four  years.  Children  of  William 
and  Mary  (Moore)  Gailey:  Elizabeth,  deceased,  married  John  Donovan; 
Silas,  of  whom  further;  James,  deceased;  John,  died  in  infancy;  William, 
deceased ;  Daniel,  a  farmer,  lives  in  Beaver ;  Nancy  Jane,  died  unmarried 
aged  thirty  years ;  Samuel,  died  young. 

(III)  Silas  Gailey,  eldest  son  and  second  child  of  William  and  Mary 
(Moore)  Gailey,  was  born  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  May  23,  1848.  He  attended  the  public  schools  in  his  youth 
and  spent  his  early  life  on  the  farm,  following  that  occupation  when  he 
left  his  home  By  purchasing  the  interests  of  his  co-heirs  he  became  the 
owner  of  his  father's  farm.  Here  he  has  ever  since  lived,  greatly  im- 
proving the  property  by  the  erection  of  a  house,  barn  and  necessary  out- 
buildings. He  conducts  general  farming  and  stock  raising  operations,  and 
has  three  acres  of  land  planted  in  apple  trees  of  selected  quality.  In  a 
region  embracing  many  productive  farms,  his  ranks  among  the  best,  and 
under  his  careful  and  skillful  management  his  soil  retains  most  of  i'ls 
richness  and  fertility.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  with  his  wife 
belongs  to  the  Four  Mile  United  Presbyterian  Church,  holding  membership 
in  the  session  of  that  organization. 

Mr.  Gailey  married,  November  28,  1868,  Melissa,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Glass)  Johnston,  of  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  663 

vania.  John  Johnston  was  a  son  of  James  and  Nancy  (Caughey)  Johnston, 
natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage and  settled  on  what  is  now  the  Goodwin  farm,  of  Ohio  township, 
and  in  this  township  they  died,  near  Smiths  Ferry.  John  Johnston  was 
born  in  Ohio  township  in  181 1,  and  after  his  marriage  purchased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres  near  Raylton,  Ohio  township,  and  there 
died  in  1895  after  a  busy  and  useful  life.  He  married  Sarah  Glass,  born 
in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  1813,  died  in  1897.  Both  she  and  her  husband 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  was  a  Republican  in 
politics.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Johnston)  Glass.  John 
Glass  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  there  a  farmer.  He  was  thrice  married,  Mary 
Johnston  being  his  first  wife,  many  of  the  ten  children  of  that  marriage 
settling  in  Indiana.  In  the  War  of  1812-14  he  was  a  soldier  in  the 
American  army.  Children  of  John  and  Sarah  (Glass)  Johnston:  i.  Mary, 
married  William  Slentz,  both  deceased.  2.  Maria  Louisa,  married  Thornton 
Hunter,  deceased,  and  lives  in  Wells  county,  Indiana.  3.  Nancy  Jane, 
unmarried,  lives  with  her  sister,  Maria  Louisa.  4.  Melissa,  of  previous 
mention,  married  Silas  Gailey.  Children  of  Silas  and  Melissa  (Johnston) 
Gailey:  i.  Effie,  married  Rev.  Edward  Curtis  Shumaker,  a  minister  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  lives  at  Lorain,  Ohio;  children:  Erie  J.,  a  minister 
of  the  Baptist  Church;  Edna  C,  Helen  C,  Alva,  Clyde.  2.  John  J., 
married  Lillian  Patterson,  and  is  his  father's  assistant  on  the  home  farm; 
children :  William  Nye,  George  J.,  Melissa  Ruth,  Annie  May,  Robert  John. 
3.  William,  a  teamster  of  Beaver;  married  Annie  Dauber.  4.  Bessie,  died 
in  1913;  married  Harry  Bevington;  children:  Samuel,  Harry  W.,  Laura 
Matilda,  Richard,  Clyde,  died  in  infancy.  5.  Ira  Franklin,  lives  at  home, 
and  engages  in  the  oil  business.  6.  Ola  E.,  married  J.  D.  Hostetter,  and 
lives  in  Frederickstown,  Knox  county,  Ohio;  children:  Gailey  J.,  Goldie 
Grace,  Joseph  Ray.  7.  Goldie,  married  Charles  Hostetter;  lives  in  Ohio 
township ;  children :    Gailey  Fred  and  Ola  Fay. 


The  Schaal  family  has  been  resident  in  this  country  only  a 
SCHAAL     few  generations,  but  it  has  already  proved  its  worth  as  having 
men  who  are  good  and  upright  citizens,  and  who  have  proved 
their  worth  in  the  business  and  industrial  circles  of  the  community. 

(I)  Frederick  Schaal  was  born  in  Germany  in  1819,  died  in  his 
native  land  in  1876.  He  was  the  owner  of  about  five  acres  of  land,  which 
he  cultivated  carefully  during  the  summer,  and  occupied  the  winter  months 
by  following  his  trade  of  weaving,  in  this  manner  comfortably  supporting 
his  family.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 
He  married  Marguerite  Kurtz,  bom  in  Germany  in  1816,  died  there  in 
1883.    They  had  one  child. 

(II)  David  Schaal,  only  child  of  Frederick  and  Marguerite  (Kurtz) 
Schaal,  was  born  in  Wuertemberg,  Germany,   September  26,    1855.     He 


664  PENNSYLVANIA 

was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  at  a  suitable 
age  took  up  the  occupations  of  farming  and  weaving  under  the  supervision 
of  his  father.  Having  come  to  the  conclusion  that  better  opportunities 
were  to  be  found  in  the  United  States  than  his  own  country  afforded,  he 
emigrated  to  America  in  October,  1880,  and  settled  at  Economy,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  for  the  winter  months.  In  the  spring  of  1881  he 
removed  to  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania,  where  for  one  year  he  worked  on 
the  railroad,  in  a  quarry  and  in  the  steel  mills.  Farm  life,  however,  had 
far  greater  attractions  for  him,  and  in  1882  he  purchased  a  plot  of  land, 
one  hundred  by  three  hundred  feet  in  extent,  on  Patterson  Heights,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  to  this  he  has  added  by  purchase  from  time  to  time,  so  that 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  three  and  one-half  acres  of  land.  He  applies 
the  most  modern  and  approved  methods  of  cultivation,  and  raises  general 
market  produce.  For  many  years  he  has  been  an  earnest  advocate  of 
Republican  principles  in  politics,  and  has  served  as  a  school  director  in 
Patterson  Heights  borough,  and  as  a  member  of  its  common  council.  His 
fraternal  connection  is  with  the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor,  and  he  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

Mr.  Schaal  married  (first)  in  1877,  Mary  Kurtz,  born  in  Germany, 
died  in  1902,  daughter  of  Andrew  Kurtz.  He  married  (second)  in  1905, 
Mrs.  Mary  Stumbach.  There  were  no  children  by  the  second  marriage. 
By  the  first  there  were  fourteen  children,  seven  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
the  others  were  named:  i.  Frederick,  a  caretaker  at  College  Hill;  married 
Linny  George  and  has  four  children.  2.  Pauline,  married  George  Irvin; 
lives  at  home;  has  one  child.  3.  Emma,  married  Bert  Carother;  lives  in 
Patterson  Heights;  has  two  children.  4.  Elizabeth,  lives  at  home.  5. 
Charles,  a  gardener,  lives  at  home.  6.  Mary,  married  Benjamin  Boss; 
lives  at  Patterson  Heights;  one  child.  7.  George,  deceased;  married  Pearl 
Baker ;  she  lives  at  Patterson  Heights ;  one  child. 


Stories  of  the  achievements  of  members  of  the  Hunter 
HUNTER     family  in  the  industrial  and  financial  world  are  numerous, 

and  although  the  branch  of  the  family  herein  recorded  chose 
rural  life  and  agricultural  pursuits  as  their  lot,  the  reputation  of  the  family 
for  honorable,  upright  and  successful  dealings  has  ever  been  upheld. 

(I)  The  emigrant  of  the  line  was  the  grandfather  of  Alexander  Hunter, 
a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  for  a 
long  time  lived  near  Smiths  Ferry.     He  was  a  farmer  and  in  the  course 

of  his  life  acquired  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  locality.     He  married  

Morehead.     Upon  emigrating  from  Ireland  he  brought  with  him  his  son, 
Wallace. 

(II)  Wallace  Hunter  grew  to  manhood  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  there  married.  After  his  marriage  he  located  on  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  six  acres  in  Ohio  township,  which  he  had  previously 
purchased,  and  he  and  his  wife  made  their  first  home  in  an  old  log  house 


BEAVER    COUNTY  665 

erected  thereon  at  an  earlier  date.  In  1865  they  moved  to  an  adjoining 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres,  where  his  death  occurred 
m  1874,  his  wife  surviving  him  and  dying  in  1906,  aged  eighty-three  years. 
He  married  Eliza  Ann,  daughter  of  Alexander  Gibb.  He  was  a  Scotch- 
Irish  settler  of  Beaver  county,  a  farmer  who  there  spent  his  life.  Children 
of  Wallace  and  Eliza  Ann  (Gibb)  Hunter:  i.  Jennie,  married  John  M. 
Ewing,  and  died  one  year  after  her  marriage.  2.  Alexander,  of  whom 
further.  3.  John  S.,  was  a  farmer  of  Ohio  township,  died  in  1912;  mar- 
ried Maria  Johnson.  4.  Harry  G.,  was  a  resident  of  Mannington,  West 
Virginia,  the  victim  of  a  railroad  accident  in  1909;  married  Alicia  Todd. 

(HI)  Alexander  Hunter,  son  of  Wallace  and  Eliza  Ann  (Gibb) 
Hunter,  was  born  in  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  June 
5,  1850,  died  April  11,  191 1.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  county 
and  was  also  a  student  of  Professor  Martin  Knight.  After  completing  his 
studies  he  assumed  the  management  of  the  home  farm  and  continued  in 
this  occupation  for  many  years.  At  his  father's  death  he  purchased  the 
interest  of  the  other  heirs  of  the  homestead,  an  estate  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty-six  acres,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  remodeling 
and  adding  to  his  old  home.  He  became  an  extensive  dealer  in  hay,  straw 
and  also  raised  much  fine  stock,  mainly  horses,  his  stock  commanding 
high  prices  and  being  noted  for  its  excellence.  Until  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  for  many  years 
a  trustee  honored  and  respected  for  the  upright  course  of  his  life.  His 
moral  character  was  beyond  reproach  and  in  public  life,  as  well,  his  record 
was  of  unassailable  integrity.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  never  held  public 
office,  confining  his  interest  to  casting  an  intelligent  vote  for  the  candidate 
of  the  best  repute. 

Mr.  Hunter  married,  November  25,  1873,  Ida,  daughter  of  William 
Shannon  and  Jane  (Barclay)  Barclay.  William  Shannon  Barclay  was 
born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  31,  1830,  died  February  16, 
1902,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Shannon)  Barclay.  He  was  for  a  time 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  with  his  father,  later  a  clerk  in  the 
court  house,  and  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  Barclay,  bom 
in  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  10,  1830.  Children 
of  Alexander  and  Ida  (Barclay)  Hunter:  i.  Jesse  Wallace,  died  aged 
three  years.  2.  Stella,  lives  at  home.  3.  Ethel,  lives  at  home.  4.  Howard 
Leland,  manages  the  home  farm. 


Ireland  is  the  country  that  must  be  searched  for  the  history  of 

MACK    the   Macks   of  early   days,   those  of  that  name  having  been 

resident  in  all  parts  of  that  land,  not  a  few  of  the  family 

having  made  America  their  home.     Such  was  the  case  of  the  line  herein 

recorded,  of  which  but  two  generations  have  had  American  homes,  Frank 

Mack,  born  in  county  Mayo,  Ireland,  being  the  emigrant  ancestor. 

(I)   Frank  Mack  was  a  young  man  at  the  time  of  his  arrival  and 


666  PENNSYLVANIA 

secured  employment  with  the  Atlanta  and  Great  Western  Railway,  now  a 
part  of  the  Erie  system,  in  that  service  meeting  with  the  accident  that 
caused  his  death  in  1868.  He  married  Mary  Dunn,  likewise  a  native  of 
county  Mayo,  Ireland,  who  had  come  to  the  United  States  with  her  sister, 
Elizabeth  and  the  husband  of  Elizabeth,  Mr.  Quinlan.  In  their  native  land 
they  had  been  unacquainted,  but  soon  after  their  meeting  in  Lockport, 
New  York,  they  were  married  in  Jamestown,  of  the  same  state.  She  sur- 
vived him  three  years,  her  death  occurring  in  1871,  both  loyal  lifelong 
members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of: 
Christopher,  a  resident  of  Glassport,  Pennsylvania,  an  employee  of  the 
American  Axe  and  Tool  Company;  Sarah,  died  in  infancy;  George,  died 
in  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  January,  1906;  John,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  John  Mack,  son  of  Frank  and  Sarah  (Dunn)  Mack,  was  born  in 
Jamestown,  New  York,  October  21,  1866.  His  parents  dying  when  he 
was  but  a  child  he  became  a  member  of  the  family  of  John  Shean,  and  in 
his  youth  attended  the  public  schools.  When  he  was  twelve  years  of  age 
he  discontinued  his  studies  and  obtained  his  first  employment  in  a  hotel 
at  Buffalo,  New  York,  where  he  remained  for  a  period  of  three  years.  He 
then  entered  the  axe  factory  of  E.  F.  Carpenter  &  Company,  at  James- 
town, New  York,  being  there  employed  from  1881  until  1890,  serving  in 
all  departments  of  the  works  and  gaining  a  knowledge  that  was  at  once 
thorough  and  practical,  all  of  the  many  processes  of  the  business  becoming 
as  familiar  to  him  as  the  most  commonplace  object.  In  1890  he  became 
associated  with  the  American  Axe  and  Tool  Company,  ten  years  later 
coming  to  Beaver  Falls  in  the  capacity  of  manager  of  their  plant  in  that 
place,  and  from  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  the  town  was  a  director  of  the 
company  employing  him.  The  magnitude  of  the  works  is  apparent  when 
it  is  stated  that  they  employed  about  five  hundred  men,  statistics  that  also 
demonstrate  the  responsibility  of  his  position,  inasmuch  as  the  tactful 
handling  of  men  requires  a  presence  and  a  personality  far  beyond  the  reach 
of  most.  In  1909  the  plant  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire  and  three  years 
later  the  American  Axe  and  Tool  Company  sold  their  property  that  was 
still  undamaged  to  the  Kelly  Axe  Company.  Mr.  Mack  then  resigned  from 
the  service  of  the  company  with  which  he  had  been  associated  for  over  a 
decade  and  purchased  the  Kelly  plant  in  Beaver  Falls,  organizing  the  Mack 
Axe  Company,  incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  $60,000,  the  board  of 
directors  being  composed  of  John  Mack,  chairman,  Frank  Mack,  J.  M. 
Mack,  and  M.  Mack.  Since  then  Mrs.  Mary  Mack,  now  deceased,  left 
the  board  of  directors,  it  being  the  same  with  that  exception.  Mr.  Mack 
is  the  active  manager  of  the  factory  in  which  an  average  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  men  are  employed,  the  product  of  the  company  being 
shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  world,  consumers  in  Australia,  South  Africa 
and  South  America  receiving  frequent  shipments.  In  the  near  future, 
when  the  organization  of  the  company  is  perfected  and  its  equipment  more 
complete,  the  factory  will  manufacture  edge  tools  of  all  types,  its  present 


CI^tCi^u^^^c^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  667 

facilities  providing  for  but  the  manufacture  of  axes.  With  Mr.  Mack  as 
its  able  head,  a  prophecy  that  its  future  success  will  far  overreach  the 
expectations  of  the  most  sanguine  is  not  unfounded,  for  in  him  is  contained 
all  of  the  craft  and  skill  of  more  than  thirty  years  connection  with  that 
business,  the  benefits  of  which  his  company  will  reap.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  during  his  residence  in  Jamestown  was  elected  an  alderman 
of  the  city.  He  was  also  a  delegate  to  the  Pennsylvania  Republican  con- 
vention that  nominated  Governor  Tener  for  the  office  to  which  he  was 
afterward  elected,  that  of  governor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  with  his  family  affiliates  with  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church. 

He  married,  in  1889,  Mary  Reed,  bom  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  daughter 
of  Frank  and  Mary  (Sheppard)  Reed;  Mrs.  Mack  died  March  13,  1914, 
aged  forty-five  years.  Children:  Julia  M.,  a  trained  nurse  in  the  Provi- 
dence Hospital,  Beaver  Falls;  Frank,  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
manufacture  of  axes;  Sarah  V.,  Fred,  Mary,  John,  all  residing  at  home. 


Washington  county  is  the  part  of  Pennsylvania  in  which 
HUFFMAN     the   Huffman    family  herein   recorded    first  appears,   the 

first  of  whom  there  is  record,  Grandfather  Huffman,  a 
descendant  of  German  forebears,  settling  there  in  the  early  days  of  the 
county.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  owning  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
Florence.  He  met  an  accidental  death  while  hauling  material  from  Pitts- 
burgh preparatory  to  the  erection  of  a  new  house.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Children:  i.  Mary, 
married  and  spent  her  life  in  Jackson  county,  Ohio,  where  she  died.  2. 
Rebecca,  died  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  3.  George,  a  farmer, 
died  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  4.  William,  a  farmer  of  Ohio, 
where  he  died.  5.  Henry,  a  farmer  in  Illinois,  near  Olida,  where  he  died. 
6.  Jacob,  a  merchant  of  Steubenville,  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  later 
moved  to  a  ranch  in  Nebraska,  and  died  in  that  state.  7.  James,  of  whom 
further.  8.  Thomas,  at  one  time  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  died  retired  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania. 

(H)  James  Huffman  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1821,  died  in  May,  1893.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county, 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the  locality,  and  after  his  marriage 
moved  to  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  countj',  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  more  than  one  hundred  acres  near  Elder's  Factory.  In  order 
that  he  might  conduct  farming  operations  on  a  larger  scale  he  purchased 
a  large  area  of  land  adjoining  his  property,  cultivating  the  entire  tract. 
He  became  the  owner  of  Watts  ]\Iills,  shipping  his  whole  output  to  Pitts- 
burgh. In  this  occupation  he  gradually  devoted  less  time  to  his  farming, 
later  selling  the  flour  mills  and  giving  his  attention  exclusively  to  his 
land.  He  finally  sold  all  his  property  and  made  his  home  with  his  son, 
Frank  L.,  until  his  death,  aged  seventy-three  years.     His  life  was  one  of 


668  PENNSYLVANIA 

successful  activity,  blessed  with  rich  and  abundant  fruit,  due  in  large 
measure  to  the  hearty  enthusiasm  with  which  he  entered  upon  any  task, 
no  matter  how  distasteful,  and  the  unabating  industry  that  characterized  his 
working  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  belief,  supporting  that 
party  in  every  issue  requiring  close  party  lines. 

He  married  Jane  Maloney,  born  near  Florence,  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1821,  died  in  December,  1893.  She  was  one  of  a  family 
of  ten  children,  of  whom  eight  were  girls  and  two  boys,  the  two  sons 
dying  in  infancy.  Maternally  she  was  descended  from  the  Morton  family, 
of  New  Jersey,  which  was  planted  in  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day.  Chil- 
dren of  James  and  Jane  (Maloney)  Huffman:  i.  John  Thomas,  of  whom 
further.    2.  Elvira,  married  J.  B.  White;  lives  in  Darlington,  Pennsylvania. 

3.  William  H.,  a  physician  of  Harrisburg,  holds  a  government  position; 
he  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  having  served  in  the  Union  army  in 
Company  D,  One  Hundredth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry. 

4.  Frank  L.,  of  whom  further.  5.  Sarah,  married  Thompson  Baker,  an 
ex-sheriff  of  Custer  county,  Nebraska,  in  which  state  they  live.  6.  Samuel, 
a  resident  of  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  a  laborer.  7.  Josephine, 
died  in  Homestead,  Pennsylvania,  about  1906;  married  Edward  Davis. 

(Ill)  John  Thomas  Huffman,  son  of  James  and  Jane  (Maloney) 
Huffman,  was  born  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, November  18,  1849,  died  in  Darlington  township,  same  county, 
November  16,  1910.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  South  Beaver  township,  and 
there  attended  the  district  school.  After  his  marriage  he  purchased  forty- 
four  acres  of  land  in  Darlington  township,  later  adding  to  his  possessions 
one  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres  in  South  Beaver  township,  never  re- 
siding thereon,  but  renting  it  during  his  entire  lifetime.  On  his  land  in 
Darlington  township  he  raised  a  great  deal  of  fine  fruit,  specializing  in 
that  branch  of  agricultural  pursuits.  His  peaches  and  apples  always  found 
a  ready  market,  being  of  unusual  size  and  luscious  flavor.  Years  of 
experience  had  taught  him  all  the  skill  of  the  trained  fruit  cultivator,  and 
with  wise  foresight  he  guarded  the  welfare  and  health  of  his  trees,  never 
forcing  them  into  bearing  but  furnishing  them  with  treatment  that  insured 
the  fullest  yield,  and  protecting  them  from  the  numerous  parasitic  scales 
that  bring  destruction  to  so  many  orchards  yearly.  He  was  a  recognized 
neighborhood  authority  on  all  that  pertained  to  the  culture  of  fruit  trees, 
and  was  frequently  consulted  by  his  neighbors  on  topics  of  that  nature,  his 
advice  being  followed  with  strict  care.  Quiet  in  disposition,  Mr.  Huffman 
never  was  actively  engaged  in  public  life  or  affairs,  preferring  the  peaceful 
life  of  his  home  to  the  company  of  his  fellows,  and  in  the  presence  of  his 
wife  and  family  ever  found  true  happiness  and  content.  Solicitous  for 
their  every  need,  in  their  service  he  found  the  greatest  enjoyment,  and 
none  can  know  the  depth  of  grief  or  the  anguish  of  sorrow  that  his  de- 
parture caused  in  that  little  circle,  beside  which  the  sympathizing  regret 
of  friends,  however  sincere,  pales  into  insignificance.     While,  as  has  been 


BEAVER    COUNTY  669 

written,  Mr.  Hufifman  took  small  part  in  politics  or  public  affairs,  he  yet 
supported  the  Republican  party  at  the  polls.  He  affiliated  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

He  married,  August  8,  1872,  Janet  Hotchkiss,  born  at  Coat  Bridge, 
eight  miles  from  Glasgow,  Scotland,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Cranston)  Hotchkiss.  The  Hotchkiss  family  had  long  been  resident  in 
Scotland  and  it  was  there  that  Joseph  Hotchkiss  was  born  in  1810,  died 
October  24,  1872.  His  parents  were  natives  of  that  country,  coal  miners 
in  occupation,  in  religious  faith  Presbyterian.  His  brothers  and  sisters 
were:  i.  Edward,  came  to  the  United  States,  but  returned  across  the 
ocean,  settling  in  England.  2.  John,  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  where  he  died.  3.  Michael,  also  came  to  the  United  States, 
but  did  not  make  his  home  here  for  any  considerable  length  of  time, 
recrossing  the  ocean  to  England,  where  he  died.  4.  Ellen,  died  in  Scotland ; 
married  John  Hodgett,  who  died  in  New  York  City,  New  York.  Joseph 
Hotchkiss  married  (iirst)  Mary  Love;  (second)  Mary  Cranston,  born  in 
England,  April  24,  1828,  died  March  22,  1908,  daughter  of  James  and 
Jennie  (Moffit)  Cranston,  both  natives  of  Scotland,  who  afterwards  moved 
to  England.  Jennie  Moffit  was  a  daughter  of  James  Moffit,  a  minister  of 
the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church.  Children  of  James  and  Jennie  (Moffit) 
Cranston:  i.  Jane,  married  Thomas  Sherry;  they  made  their  home  in  East 
Palestine,  Ohio,  where  he  was  a  miner.  2.  Mary,  of  previous  mention, 
the  second  wife  of  Joseph  Hotchkiss.  3.  John,  enlisted  in  the  Union  army 
at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War  from  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  was  never  heard 
from  thereafter,  nor  has  any  trace  of  him  been  found.  Children  of  first 
marriage  of  Joseph  Hotchkiss:  i.  James,  died  aged  eighteen  years,  the 
result  of  injuries  received  while  engaged  in  mine  labor.  2.  John,  died 
young.  3.  Edward,  died  in  boyhood.  4.  William,  a  miner,  lives  in  Darling- 
ton township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  with  Michael  Hotchkiss,  his 
half-brother.  Children  of  second  marriage  of  Joseph  Hotchkiss:  i.  Janet, 
of  previous  mention,  married  John  Thomas  Huffman.  2.  Edward,  lives  in 
Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  home  of  his 
sister,  Janet;  his  occupation  is  that  of  coal  miner.  3.  Jennie,  deceased, 
married  Finley  Rhodes.  4.  John,  a  coal  miner  of  Burgettstown,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 5.  James,  baggage  master  in  the  Union  depot  in  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  resides.  6.  Joseph,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Dillonville, 
Ohio.  7.  Michael,  a  farmer  of  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. Children  of  John  Thomas  and  Janet  (Hotchkiss)  Huffman:  i. 
Samuel,  born  January  28,  1874;  a  steel-worker  of  East  McKeesport,  Penn- 
sylvania; married  May  Clark;  they  are  the  parents  of  Marguerite,  Gene- 
vieve, Paul,  Walter,  Dorothea.  2.  Mary,  born  August  4,  1877;  married 
Sylvan  Randall;  lives  in  North  Braddock,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Jennie,  born 
July  9,  1885 ;  a  nurse  in  the  West  Penn  Hospital,  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania. 
4.  Helen  C,  bom  November  17,  1896;  lives  with  her  mother. 

Mrs.  Janet  Huffman  is  a  woman  of  rare  sweetness  and  beauty  of 


670  PENNSYLVANIA 

character,  a  mother  of  the  old  school  in  every  fibre  of  her  being.  At  the 
death  of  the  wife  of  her  brother,  John,  his  son,  Cecil  D.,  came  to  make 
his  home  with  his  aunt,  and  has  there  since  lived,  receiving  from  the 
fullness  of  her  great  heart  the  maternal  love  of  which  death  had  attempted 
to  deprive  him. 

(Ill)  Frank  L.  Huffman,  son  of  James  and  Jane  (Maloney)  Huffman, 
was  born  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  28, 
1861.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Darlington  township,  and 
from  boyhood  was  taught  in  the  ways  of  farm  life,  so  that  he  remained  on 
the  home  acres  as  his  father's  assistant  until  his  marriage.  After  his 
marriage  he  purchased  a  seventy  acre  farm  in  Lawrence  county  and  there 
lived  until  the  spring  of  1900,  when  he  moved  to  Beaver  county,  there 
becoming  the  possessor  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Big 
Beaver  township.  His  home  is  near  the  present  town  of  Koppel,  and  there 
he  has  ever  since  resided.  On  his  land  he  has  erected  several  houses  for 
renting  purposes,  as  well  as  a  large  silo.  This  latter  is  necessary  because 
of  the  comparatively  numerous  stock  he  keeps  in  connection  with  his  dairy 
business,  his  stables  housing  twenty  cows,  all  excellent  stock  and  steady 
producers.  He  conducts  a  retail  milk  business,  covering  all  of  the  neigh- 
boring territory,  and  supplies  his  customers  with  a  rich  and  wholesome 
grade  of  milk,  bottled  in  a  sanitary  manner  in  a  dairy  scrupulously  clean. 
It  is  by  the  sale  of  a  product  with  these  qualities  that  Mr.  Huffman  has 
built  up  a  large  patronage  in  that  locality.  His  farm  at  the  present  time 
consists  of  but  seventy  acres,  fifty  acres  of  his  former  tract  having  been 
purchased  in  1906  by  the  Arthur  Koppel  Company.  He  has  held  numerous 
township  offices,  elected  always  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  with  his  wife 
attends  the  services  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

He  married,  September  6,  1883,  Martha  Jane  Hillman,  bom  in 
Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  4,  1863,  daughter  of  John  and 
Isabel  (Blair)  Hillman.  John  Hillman  was  a  son  of  John  Frederick  and 
Hannah  Ann  (Wiley)  Hillman,  who  came  to  Beaver  county  from  West- 
moreland county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  bought  two  farms  near  Ellwood, 
where  they  both  died.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  Elizabeth 
Jane,  married  Thomas  Irvin,  and  died  on  the  homestead ;  and  John,  father 
of  Martha  Jane.  John  Hillman  was  born  near  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania, 
September  24,  1833.  When  a  child  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Beaver  county  and  there  grew  to  manhood  and  married,  later  moving  to 
Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  owned  a  farm.  In  1877-78  he 
returned  to  Beaver  county,  purchasing  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  where  Frank  L.  Huffman  now  lives.  On  this  property  he  erected 
a  substantial  dwelling  and  in  numerous  other  ways  added  to  its  appearance 
and  convenience,  and  there  died,  in  September,  1903.  His  first  wife, 
Isabel,  died  in  1868,  and  he  married  a  second  time,  his  wife  being  Martha 
Ann,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  Isabel  and  Martha  Ann  Blair  were  the 
daughters  of  Samuel  and   Isabel    (Stockman)    Blair.     Samuel  Blair  was 


BEAVER    COUNTY  671 

bom  on  Manhattan  Island,  New  York,  where  the  family  had  lived  for 
many  generations.  Upon  coming  to  Beaver  county  he  settled  in  Big 
Beaver  township,  there  buying  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  on  which  he 
built  a  red  brick  house,  now  used  as  a  dwelling  by  his  grandson,  John  C. 
Blair.  Within  the  walls  of  this  house,  raised  about  1835,  Samuel  Blair 
died.  He  was  the  father  of:  i.  Robert,  a  farmer  of  Kansas,  where  he 
died.  2.  Silas,  killed  in  battle  in  the  Civil  War,  a  soldier  in  the  Union 
army.  3.  Samuel.  4.  John,  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army,  met  his  death  at 
the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  5.  Martha  Ann,  the  second  wife  of  John  Hillman. 
6.  Eliza,  died  unmarried  in  Beaver  county.  7.  Isabel,  the  first  wife  of 
John  Hillman,  died  in  Beaver  county.  John  and  Isabel  (Blair)  Hillman 
were  the  parents  of  but  two  daughters,  Martha  Jane,  of  previous  mention, 
married  Frank  L.  Huffman;  and  Anna,  married  William  Wilson,  a  brother 
of  Judge  J.  Sharpe  Wilson.  Children  of  Frank  L.  and  Martha  Jane  (Blair) 
Huffman:  1.  John  Frederick,  a  farmer,  lives  with  his  father.  2.  Harry 
James,  a  farmer  of  Lawrence  county;  married  Matilda  Law,  and  has  one 
son,  Harry  James  Jr.  3.  Roy  Wilbert,  lives  at  home.  4.  Frank  Lloyd, 
lives  at  home.  5.  Martha.  6.  Anna  Elizabeth.  7.  Mildred  Gladys.  8. 
William,  died  in  infancy. 


The  name  of  Davis  is  one  of  common  occurrence  in  this  country 
DAVIS     and   is   found   in   various    forms — Davies,   Davids,   etc.     The 

majority  of  those  bearing  it  are  of  English  descent,  although  the 
German  form  of  the  name  has  become  changed  to  be  like  the  English.  The 
family  under  discussion  here  came  originally  from  Wales,  where  the  great- 
grandfather of  the  present  generation  was  born.  He  was  a  millwright, 
and  about  1840,  with  his  wife  and  family,  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
He  at  once  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  at  his 
calling  until  his  death.  He  married  in  Wales  and  had  children:  Samuel, 
who  was  a  policeman  for  many  years  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  is  now 
living  there  in  retirement;  Joseph,  who  had  lost  a  leg  while  in  service 
during  the  Civil  War,  was  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river;  Sarah,  died  in 
Pittsburgh;  Thomas,  see  forward;  Mary,  lives  in  Pittsburgh. 

(II)  Thomas  Davis,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  Wales  about 
the  year  1820.  In  1861,  during  the  Civil  War,  he  enlisted  in  a  Pittsburgh 
company  of  infantry,  and  while  he,  his  father  and  his  brother  Joseph  were 
climbing  a  wall  during  a  charge  up  a  hill,  a  cannonball  tore  off  one  of 
Joseph's  legs.  In  the  heat  of  the  battle  father  and  sons  became  separated, 
and  Thomas  Davis  was  never  heard  from  again,  having  probably  died  a 
hero's  death  and  been  buried  in  an  unknown  grave.  Mr.  Davis  married 
Elizabeth  Nottingham,  born  in  Sheffield,  England,  1824,  died  of  Asiatic 
cholera  in  1857.  She  was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Brown) 
Nottingham,  both  natives  of  Sheffield,  England,  where  he  worked  in  a 
cutlery  factory,  and  whence  the  family  emigrated  to  Pittsburgh  when  Mrs. 
Davis  was  a  small  child.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  had  children:    William  F., 


672  PENNSYLVANIA 

see  forward;  Edward,  a  blacksmith  in  Warren  county,  Ohio;  Martha  Jane, 
married  James  Tyley,  and  resides  in  Pittsburgh;  an  infant  of  one  year, 
and  a  recently  born  child  died  at  the  same  time  as  the  mother  of  the  children. 
Mr.  Davis  had  learned  the  trade  of  millwright  and  mechanic  in  his  native 
country,  and  was  nineteen  years  of  age  when  he  emigrated  with  his  parents. 
He  was  a  man  of  large  stature,  being  almost  six  feet  tall,  very  broad 
shouldered,  with  a  deep  chest  and  unusually  well-developed  muscles.  He 
became  a  roller  in  the  iron  mills  in  Pittsburgh,  and  was  noted  as  being  the 
best  worker  in  this  line  during  his  time. 

(HI)  William  F.  Davis,  eldest  child  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Not- 
tingham) Davis,  was  born  on  Saw  Mill  Run,  then  Temperanceville,  a  part 
of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  December  15,  1849.  He  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  was  but  eight  years  of  age  when  he  lost  his  mother,  and  four 
years  later  his  father  entered  the  Union  army.  He  and  his  brother  and 
sister  were  placed  in  an  orphan  asylum,  his  father  paying  for  their  support, 
in  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania.  They  remained  in  this  institution  two  years, 
at  which  time  the  father  married  a  second  time,  his  wife  being  Mary 
Hargraves.  When  Mr.  Davis  was  twelve  years  of  age,  he  was  taken  from 
the  asylum  by  his  stepmother  and  lived  with  her  six  months,  in  East 
Liverpool,  Ohio,  after  which  he  was  with  a  farmer  in  South  Beaver 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  for  a  period  of  two  years.  He 
then  found  employment  as  a  riverman  on  the  Allegheny  river,  between 
Oil  City  and  Pittsburgh,  remaining  for  two  years.  Three  years  were 
spent  as  light  tender  on  the  steamer  "Belle,"  under  Jim  Conners;  three 
years  for  W.  F.  Logan,  in  Allegheny  township,  Armstrong  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; three  years  working  in  the  orchards  of  the  Hon.  L  F.  Mans- 
field, in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  after  which  he 
removed  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Returning  to  Cannelton,  Pennsylvania,  he 
was  employed  in  the  coal  mines,  at  intervals,  until  1907.  In  1892  he  pur- 
chased a  small  farm  near  Cannelton,  erected  a  house  and  barn  on  this 
heavily  timbered  land,  cleared  it  for  farming  purposes,  and  has  lived  there 
since  that  time.  He  is  a  man  of  great  executive  ability,  was  a  leader  in  the 
Coal  Miners'  Union,  and  president  of  the  local  order.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr.  Davis  has  served  as  clerk 
of  the  finance  board  of  that  institution. 

Mr.  Davis  married,  August  14,  1875,  Sarah  Ann  Beresford,  born  in 
Devonshire,  England,  May  18,  1857,  died  September  26,  1909.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Hall)  Beresford,  both  natives  of  Devon- 
shire, where  he  was  a  coal  miner.  In  1867  he  emigrated  to  America  with 
his  family,  made  his  home  at  Cannelton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
resided  there  until  his  death,  his  occupation  during  this  time  having  been 
that  of  a  miner.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  have  had  children:  John,  born 
March  7,  1877,  a  coal  miner,  married  Ida  Serfoss;  Thomas,  born  July  11, 
1880;  William,  born  August  30,  1884;  Joseph,  born  February  29,  1888; 
Samuel,  bom  January  29,  1890;  Eva  Rebecca,  born  February  26,  1899., 


i 


i 


BEAVER    COUNTY  673 

Of  the  five  children  of  the  Bray  family  of  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
BRAY    sylvania,  there  is  only  one  living  at  the  present  time,  Eliza. 
The   following  chronicle  is  concerned  with  the  career  of  her 
brother,  James  Henry  Bray.     He  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania, 
September  23,   1842,  son  of  Irish  parents  whose  home  was  in  that  city. 
In  obtaining  his  education  he  never  attended  the  public  schools,  but  was 
instructed  under  the  Rev.  Smith,  of  the  Penn  Institute,  a  private  institution. 
Here,  while  the  surroundings  that  make  for  the  true  democracy  of  the 
public  schools  of  our  county  were  lacking,  he  obtained  an  excellent  edu- 
cation under  a  learned  and  gifted  instructor.    His  first  business  experience 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Allegheny  Valley  Railroad  Company,  where  he 
remained  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.     He  tendered  the  company 
his  resignation  from  the  place  he  then  held  in  its  services,  which  was, 
however,  refused,  the  board  of  directors  of  the  corporation  decreeing  that 
any  who  should  leave  the  company's  employ  to  enter  the  army  of  the 
United  States  would  find  their  positions  awaiting  them  upon  their  return 
from   the    front.      He   immediately   enlisted    in   Company    F,    Forty-sixth 
Regiment   Pennsylvania   Volunteer    Infantry,   and   served   throughout   the 
entire  war.    He  was  in  active  service  all  of  this  time  with  the  exception  of 
three  months  spent  as  a  captive  in  the  Confederate  prisons,  Libby  and 
Belle  Isle.     Of  strong  and  active  frame,  his  incarceration  in  no  way  in- 
capacitated him  for  service,  and  after  his  release  he  speedily  rejoined  his 
regiment.     Although  he  never  held  rank  in  the  regiment,  his  comrades  of 
the  line  were  often  inspired  by  the   fortitude  and  courage  he  displayed 
under  the  most  severe  fire,  and,  encouraged  by  the  bravery  of  his  example, 
were  strengthened  to  withstand  the  terrific  hail  of  death  they  often  faced. 
At   the   close   of   that   memorable    four   years   struggle    that   saw   liberty 
triumphant  over  the  land  he  resumed  his  position  as  an  ordinary  citizen  in 
the  employ  of  the  Allegheny  Valley  Railroad.     In  1874  he  left  the  service 
of  this  company  and  purchased  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Industry  township, 
Beaver  county,  erecting  substantial  buildings  and  in  other  ways  improving 
his  newly-acquired  property.     Here  he  resided  until  his  death,  December 
20,  1912,  cultivating  his  land  and  rearing  his  family  amid  the  healthful 
and  uplifting  influences  of  country  life.     Since  the  casting  of  his  first 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  when   that  martyr  was  a  candidate   for   re- 
election, he  ever  supported  the  Republican  party.    He  held  the  thirty-second 
degree  in  the  Masonic  Order,  was  a   Knight  Templar,  and  belonged  to 
Syria  Temple,  at  Pittsburgh. 

Mr.  Bray  married,  in  1868,  Barbara  Catherine  Barth,  a  native  of 
Germany,  daughter  of  Jacob  Barth.  She  came  to  the  United  States  with 
her  parents  when  ten  years  of  age,  her  father  dying  in  New  York,  her 
mother  remarrying  and  moving  to  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  where  her 
death  occurred.  Children  of  James  Henry  and  Barbara  Catherine  (Barth) 
Bray:  i.  Emma  Adeline,  died  in  infancy.  2.  Fred  E.,  a  civil  engineer  of 
Pittsburgh,  a  graduate  of  Lehigh  University.    3.  Blanche  A.,  lives  at  home. 


674  PENNSYLVANIA 

4.  Oliver  S.,  died  aged  thirty-one  years.  5.  William  L.,  an  engineer  in 
the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  was  killed  when  the  train  he  was 
driving  was  wrecked.  6.  Edna  G.,  lives  at  home.  7.  George  Garfield,  a 
clerk  in  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  offices  in  Pittsburgh,  married  Emma 
Shuck  and  has  two  children,  Blanche  A.  and  John  Frederick.  8.  Charles, 
a  civil  engineer,  lives  at  home.  9.  Grace  M.,  married  Paul  B.  Allen,  and 
lives  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  To  his  large  family  James  H.  Bray 
was  a  kind  and  loving  father,  and  in  their  memory,  as  in  that  of  his  widow, 
who  will  ever  mourn  his  loss,  will  remain  the  impression  of  his  tender  and 
affectionate  love. 


Tarentum,  Allegheny  county,  is  the  part  of  Pennsylvania  that 
DAVIS     was   the  original  home  of   the   branch   of  the   Davis   family 

herein  chronicled,  and  it  was  from  this  locality  as  a  center  that 
William  Davis,  grandfather  of  Robert  Charles  Davis,  of  this  record,  con- 
ducted his  oil  operations.  He  was  an  oil  well  contractor  on  an  extensive 
scale,  owning  and  leasing  much  productive  property  and  was  a  prominent 
figure  in  the  industry  all  through  the  state.  Shrewd  and  conservative  in 
judgment,  most  of  his  ventures  were  crowned  with  success,  and  he  became 
possessed  of  a  moderate  competence.  He  married  and  became  the  father 
of  the  following:  i.  James,  died  at  Irwin,  Pennsylvania;  was  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  War.  2.  William,  died  at  Tarentum,  Allegheny  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; was  a  Civil  War  veteran.  Mary  Ann,  deceased;  married  Henry 
Truby.  4.  Lizzie,  deceased;  married  EH  Hemphill.  5.  John  C,  of  whom 
further.    6.  Hannah,  died  unmarried. 

(II)  John  C.  Davis,  fifth  child  and  third  son  of  William  Davis,  was 
bom  in  Tarentum,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  Here  his  early  life 
was  spent  and  his  education  obtained,  and  when  a  young  man  he  began 
operations  in  the  oil  field.  He  possessed  much  of  the  ability  in  this  line 
that  had  marked  his  father's  career  and  from  the  start  his  business  dealings 
met  with  favorable  fortune.  He  made  Beaver  county  his  first  field  and 
by  1870  his  interests  in  that  region  had  become  so  firmly  established  and 
were  in  such  regular  operation  that  he  enlarged  his  field  and  moved  to 
Fairview.  Here  he  was  engaged  in  business  for  several  years,  when  he 
severed  all  his  connections  with  oil  producing  industry  and  retired.  He 
made  his  home  in  Allegheny,  where  he  was  proprietor  of  a  livery,  and  was 
for  some  time  an  official  at  the  penitentiary.  When  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third 
Regular  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  as  a  private,  and  fought  in  every  battle 
in  which  his  regiment,  which  was  part  of  the  eastern  army,  engaged.  In 
April,  1863,  he  received  a  second  lieutenant's  commission,  which  he  held 
until  his  honorable  discharge  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  a  Republican 
in  politics,  never  an  office  holder,  and  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  faith.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Mr.  Davis  died  in 
Allegheny  and  his  wife  died  at  the  home  of  her  son,  Robert  Charles,  with 
whom  the  last  days  of  her  life  were  spent. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  67s 

Mr.  Davis  married  Helen,  daughter  of   Robert  and  (Kissick) 

Gilliford.  Robert  Gilliford  was  a  member  of  an  old  New  England  family, 
was  there  a  farmer,  and  on  coming  to  Tarentum  purchased  a  house  and 
there  lived  retired,  becoming  the  owner  of  considerable  property  in  that 
place.  Children  of  Robert  Gilliford:  i.  George,  a  farmer,  died  in  Kansas. 
2.  Helen,  of  previous  mention,  married  John  C.  Davis.  3.  Elizabeth,  mar- 
ried Thomas  Humes,  a  farmer  of  Butler,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Nancy,  married 
Rev.  J.  C.  Evans,  and  died  in  Nebraska.  5.  Harriet,  married  Alexander 
Esdon,  deceased;  lived  in  Kansas.  6.  Robert  H.,  a  physician  of  Allegheny. 
7.  Allie,  deceased ;  married  Charles  Pillow.  8.  Martha,  married  Dr.  Thomas 
Galbraith,  who  went  to  California  in  1849,  at  the  time  of  the  gold  discovery, 
and  was  very  successful  in  his  search  for  the  precious  metal,  accumulating 
a  considerable  fortune.  Children  of  John  C.  and  Helen  (Gilliford)  Davis: 
Robert  Charles,  of  whom  further;  Frank  L.,  a  blacksmith,  lives  in  the 
west. 

(Ill)  Robert  Charles  Davis,  eldest  of  the  two  sons  of  John  C.  and 
Helen  (Gilliford)  Davis,  was  born  in  Tarentum,  Allegheny  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  18,  1857.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  birth- 
place and  completed  his  studies  at  the  academy  there  located.  During  the 
first  few  years  of  his  business  life  he  engaged  in  teaming,  hauling  oil  from 
the  new  wells  opened  in  the  vicinity.  After  his  marriage  he  rented  and 
cultivated  his  father-in-law's  farm  for  about  seven  years,  in  1890  moving 
to  Fairview  and  establishing  a  general  store.  Here  he  still  continues,  and 
although  at  the  beginning  of  his  enterprise  his  place  of  business  was  small 
and  unpretentious,  his  increased  trade  and  growing  custom  have  made 
necessary  a  store  carrying  a  complete  line  of  general  merchandise,  as  well 
as  all  commodities  needed  by  the  farmers  of  the  region,  feed,  harness  and 
farm  implements.  He  has  recently,  in  connection  with  the  management 
of  his  business,  begun  farming  operations  on  his  father-in-law's  farm, 
an  occupation  to  which  he  has  been  for  a  long  time  unaccustomed,  but  in 
which  he  has  had  considerable  experience.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political 
sympathy,  and  with  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Mr.  Davis  married,  July  7,  1881,  Ida  Olive,  daughter  of  Silas  and 
Mary  (Reed)  Moore.  Silas  Moore,  son  of  William  Moore,  a  pioneer  of 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  was  a  native  of  Beaver  county,  and  there 
lived  all  his  life,  born  June  i,  1820,  died  March  2,  1913.  He  was  a  land 
owner  and  farmer,  noted  throughout  the  county  for  the  excellent  grade 
of  horses  he  bred  and  for  his  fine  sheep.  He  was  a  Republican  and  promi- 
nent in  public  affairs  and  served  the  township  in  the  capacity  of  supervisor. 
He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Four  Mile  United  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Reed,  an  early  settler 
of  Ohio  township,  likewise  a  native  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  who 
died  August  29,  1894.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
six  died  when  under  ten  years  of  age.    The  others  are:     i.  Mary,  married 


676  PENNSYLVANIA 

Thomas  Shane,  deceased  2.  Agnes.  3.  Jennie.  The  three  above  men- 
tioned Hve  on  the  home  farm,  Agnes  and  Jennie,  both  unmarried.  4.  Ida 
Ohve,  of  previous  mention,  married  Robert  Charles  Davis.  Child  of  Robert 
Charles  and  Ida  Olive  (Moore)  Davis,  Zelia,  died  aged  twelve  years. 


The  parents  of  John  Robertson,  of  Washington  county, 
ROBERTSON     Pennsylvania,  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  in  that 

section  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  bore  their 
share  bravely  in  the  upbuilding  of  that  region.  John  Robertson  was  l?orn 
in  Washington  county,  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  that 
day.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  about  1820  located  in  Hanover 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  followed  this  calling 
until  his  death,  November  16,  1862.  He  married  Elizabeth  Shillito,  whose 
father,  George  Shillito,  had  served  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812. 
He  boarded  the  students  of  the  Service  United  Presbyterian  Seminary 
when  the  country  roundabout  was  still  primeval  forest.  Dr.  Anderson  was 
teacher  and  preacher  at  the  time.  Mr.  Robertson  and  his  family  were 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  supported  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  had  children:  George  Louis,  Alexander  Allison,  see 
forward;  Margaret;  Nancy,  Samuel  Shillito,  Jane,  William  Wallace. 

(II)  Alexander  Allison  Robertson,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Shil- 
lito) Robertson,  was  born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  24,  1823,  died  May  5,  1912.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  at  Service,  and  at  a  suitable  age  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  did  under  the  supervision  of  General  John 
S.  Little,  of  Hbokstown.  He  was  obliged  to  abandon  this  trade  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  home  farm  for  his  parents,  and  since  that  time  he  has 
been  engaged  in  general  farming.  He  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  acres,  on  which  he  has  erected  all  the  necessary  buildings.  He 
has  been  a  Republican  for  twenty-one  years,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Prohibition  party.  He  has  served  as  a  school  director  and  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  road  commissioners.  For  the  unusually  long  period  of  half 
a  century  he  has  served  as  an  elder  in  the  Service  United  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  married,  in  October,  1849,  Margaret,  born  December  24, 
1830,  daughter  of  Richard  Calhoon.  Margaret  (Calhoon)  Robertson  is 
still  living,  making  her  home  with  her  son  George  S. ;  also  the  sister  of 
Mr.  Robertson,  Mrs.  Mehaffy,  resides  with  him.  A.  A.  Robertson  had  chil- 
dren: I.  Sarah  Calhoon,  married,  February  20,  1870,  Joseph  Mehaflfy,  a 
merchant,  who  died  December  27,  1912;  children:  Lily  Dixon;  Frederick 
Ardon,  married  Sadie  Fulton,  of  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  had 
children:  Byron  Allison,  Arthur,  Joseph  Harold  and  Frank  Fulton.  2. 
George  Shillito,  see  forward. 

(III)  George  Shillito  Robertson,  son  of  Alexander  Allison  and  Mar- 
garet (Calhoon)  Robertson,  was  born  September  3,  1854.  Until  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years  he  was  occupied  solely  with  agricultural  pursuits,  and 


BEAVER    COUNTY  677 

then  took  up  undertaking  in  connection  with  his  farm  work.  In  his  under- 
taking business  he  attends  to  a  considerable  clientele.  He  keeps  a  full 
equipment  and  is  a  certified  embalmer,  having  taken  his  instructions  in 
Pittsburgh.  He  cultivates  the  farm  in  Hanover  township,  near  Mechanics- 
burg,  for  general  products,  and  has  been  very  successful.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Service  United  Presbyterian  Church  with  his  family  for  many 
years,  and  is  a  strong  supporter  of  the  Prohibition  party.  He  has  filled 
very  capably  the  offices  of  township  commissioner  and  of  road  commissioner. 
Mr.  Robertson  married,  June  26,  1879,  Mary  Eflfey  Brunton,  of  Salem, 
Illinois,  daughter  of  William  and  Cynthia  (Morris)  Brunton,  natives  of 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  Salem,  Illinois.  Children:  Claudie 
Oscar,  of  New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania,  married  Emma  Barow,  of  East 
Liverpool,  Ohio;  Maggie  May,  deceased;  Allison  Eldon,  deceased. 


The  Robertsons  of  Scotland  are  members  of  the  Clan 
ROBERTSON     Donnachaidh,  or  Duncan,   so   called,   it  is  said,   from 

Duncan,  its  founder,  a  descendant  of  the  earls  of  Athol. 
He  was  born  about  1275,  and  inherited  from  his  father,  Andrew,  a  portion 
of  the  earldom  of  Athol,  and  was  the  first  of  the  lairds  of  Struan  or 
Strowan.  He  was  an  adherent  of  Robert  Bruce,  and  entertained  and 
protected  that  king  and  his  queen  when  in  hiding  after  the  defeat  at 
Methven  in  1306.  The  clan  has  distinguished  itself  in  many  wars,  and  is 
said  to  have  saved  the  day  at  Bannockburn.  Many  distinguished  men  in 
Europe  and  America  are  descended  from  the  Robertsons  of  Struan.  After 
the  Scottish  rebellions  many  Robertsons  fled  to  Ireland,  whence  they  or 
their  descendants  came  to  America.  For  the  most  part  these  were  engaged 
in  agriculture.  They  have  been  energetic  and  progressive,  and  have  engaged 
in  industrial  pursuits  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  the  country. 

(I)  John  Robertson,  the  first  of  the  line  under  discussion  here,  was 
born  in  Scotland,  and  died  in  county  Tyrone,  Ireland,  whither  he  had 
migrated. 

(II)  William  Robertson,  son  of  John  Robertson,  was  born  in  Tivaney, 
county  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1753,  died  in  1791.  He  married  Margaret 
Denny. 

(III)  Matthew  Robertson,  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Denny) 
Robertson,  was  bom  in  county  Tyrone,  Ireland.  He  and  his  wife  and 
children  were  captured  by  the  British  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  were 
taken  to  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  where  he  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
seven  years.  His  widow,  Rebecca,  with  her  children :  William,  Archibald, 
James  and  Margaret — later  removed  to  near  Coshocton,  Ohio,  where,  al- 
though she  had  but  limited  means,  she  contrived  to  keep  her  family  together 
and  raise  them  up  to  be  good  and  useful  citizens. 

(IV)  Archibald  Robertson,  son  of  Matthew  and  Rebecca  Robertson, 
was  born  in  county  Tyrone,  Ireland.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
during  the  War  of  1812,  when  they  were  taken  to  Halifax  as  above  related. 


678  PENNSYLVANIA 

He  was  but  a  few  years  old  at  this  time,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
pubHc  schools  of  Ohio,  walking  four  miles  to  the  nearest  school.  This 
was  held  in  a  small  log  cabin  with  oiled  paper  in  lieu  of  window  panes. 
He  was  early  apprenticed  to  learn  the  millwright's  trade,  in  which  he 
became  proficient,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  in  1829,  built  a 
steam  paper  mill  at  Beaver  Falls  and  operated  it  until  1849.  He  then 
erected  a  water  power  mill  of  the  same  kind  at  Adamsville  (a  part  of 
Beaver  Falls).  He  retired  from  active  business  life  two  or  three  years 
prior  to  his  death  which  occurred  July  i,  1871.  He  was  prominently  in  the 
public  eye  in  political  matters,  representing  his  section  in  the  state  senate 
in  1851-52,  and  was  collector  of  internal  revenue,  1866-67-68-69.  He  and 
his  family  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  Ann 
Ray  Baker,  of  Baltimore,  and  they  had  two  daughters  and  four  sons. 

(V)  William  (2)  Robertson,  son  of  Archibald  and  Ann  Ray  (Baker) 
Robertson,  was  born  in  Old  Brighton  (Beaver  Falls),  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  25,  1844.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  Brighton,  and  at  Dufif's  Business  College,  in  Pittsburgh. 
Upon  the  completion  of  his  education  he  entered  the  employ  of  Scott  & 
Company,  as  clerk,  they  being  coal  shippers  at  Clinton,  Pennsylvania.  His 
next  position  was  with  the  Pittsburgh  Hinge  Company,  at  Beaver  Falls, 
this  later  becoming  the  Baker  Chain  Company,  and  in  1900,  the  Standard 
Chain  Company,  located  in  Pittsburgh,  Mr.  Robertson  becoming  assistant 
treasurer,  and  in  1903  treasurer  of  this  corporation,  and  still  holding  that 
office.  In  1907  he  and  his  son  James  L.  engaged  in  the  clay  shipping  bus- 
iness, their  plant  being  located  in  Dougherty  township,  just  outside  of 
New  Brighton.  The  family  home  is  also  in  that  location,  but  from  1891 
to  1903  they  resided  at  Bellevue,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Robertson  married, 
November  12,  1868,  Harriet  W.  Wendt,  of  South  Side,  Pittsburgh,  who 
died  September  26,  191 1.  They  had  three  children:  Anna  R..  married 
E.  W.  Arthur,  of  Cheswick,  Pennsylvania;  Margaret,  married  J.  E. 
Douglas;  James  Lovejoy,  unmarried.  The  family  attends  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 


The  family  to  which  William  Shannon,  of  Beaver  county, 
SHANNON  Pennsylvania,  belongs,  traces  its  family  residence  to  Ire- 
land, the  garden  spot  of  the  British  Isles.  The  home  of 
the  emigrant  ancestor  was  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Shannon,  but  whether 
the  family  derived  its  surname  because  of  its  close  association  with  the 
river,  or  the  latter  was  named  from  the  family,  is  uncertain.  However,  it 
is  from  that  locality  that  the  American  ancestor  came,  and  it  is  highly 
probable  that  some  such  relation  existed  between  the  name  of  the  family 
and  that  of  the  water-course. 

(I)  Robert  Shannon,  the  father  of  William  Shannon,  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  18,  1799,  died  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  March  8,  1868.    His  youthful  life  was  passed  in  the 


^ 


^ 


1 


BEAVER   COUNTY  679 

locality  of  his  birth,  and  after  his  marriage,  which  was  solemnized  in 
Butler  county,  made  his  home  in  the  region  north  of  Pittsburgh.  In  1828- 
29  he  came  to  Beaver  county  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  six  acres  of 
land  in  Big  Beaver  township,  continuing  in  his  life-long  occupation,  that 
of  farming.  The  farm  was  partially  cleared  and  was  graced  with  a  log 
structure  occupied  by  the  former  owner.  Mr.  Shannon's  first  improvement 
was  the  erection  of  a  barn  to  shelter  his  live  stock,  and  after  the  completion 
of  that  work  he  finished  the  task  of  removing  the  timber  and  underbrush 
from  the  land.  By  the  time  this  was  accomplished  he  felt  the  need  of  a 
new  dwelling  and  caused  a  substantial  frame  building  to  be  raised  to  take 
the  place  of  the  cabin  that  had  been  the  home  of  Mr.  Shannon's  predecessor 
in  possession.  Before  his  death  he  had  acquired  two  adjoining  farms,  one 
of  fifty  and  the  other  of  ninety  acres  area,  and  had  both  under  profitable 
cultivation.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  faith,  although  not  a  public 
servant,  and  was,  with  his  wife,  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  lies  beside  his  wife  in  the  Rocky  Spring  Cemetery,  finishing 
out  with  her  his  earthly  residence  in  the  body,  while  their  spirits  are 
joined  in  the  land  of  eternal  day.  He  married,  in  Butler  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Nellie  Miller,  born  February  28,  1797,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  9,  1876.  Children  of  Robert  and  Nellie  (Miller) 
Shannon:  i.  Jerusha,  bom  August  12,  1820;  married  John  Dillan;  died 
in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  2.  Aaron,  born  June  3,  1825,  died  in 
Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Joseph,  born  November  27,  1826;  a  farmer; 
married  Eliza  Jane  Beatty ;  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Samuel, 
born  September  25,  1828;  a  farmer  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  died.  5.  Nellie,  born  June  15,  1830;  married  Levi  Dillan;  died  in  Big 
Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  6.  Robert,  born  September 
19,  1831 ;  a  farmer  of  Big  Beaver  township,  where  he  died.  7.  Mary,  born 
October  2,  1834 ;  married  William  Baker,  a  farmer ;  died  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania.  8.  George,  born  October  i,  1836;  a  farmer  of  Kansas; 
died  in  that  state.  9.  Rachel,  born  November  22,  1838,  died  young.  10. 
William,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  William  Shannon,  youngest  of  the  ten  children  of  Robert  and 
Nellie  (Miller)  Shannon,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  October  4,  1840.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Big  Beaver  township,  and  by  experience  on  the  home  farm 
was  fitted  for  the  life  of  a  farmer,  which  he  has  since  followed,  with  the 
exception  of  three  years  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  Union.  He  enlisted 
on  June  20,  1861,  in  Company  K,  Tenth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Reserves. 
Among  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  actively  engaged  were  Dranes- 
ville,  Mechanicsville,  Gaines'  Mill,  Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  Hethesda 
Church,  Malvern  Hill,  Groveton,  Second  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg, Gettysburg,  Bristoe  Station,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania, 
North  Anne  River,  and  Tolopotamy,  in  all  of  which  he  participated.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  and  for 


68o  PENNSYLVANIA 

twenty-eight  days  was  confined  in  Libby  Prison,  but  after  that  time  was 
placed  under  less  strict  guard,  and  in  the  following  April  was  exchanged, 
returning  to  his  regiment  in  the  latter  part  of  that  month.  After  his 
return  from  the  front  he  assumed  the  management  of  the  home  farm  and 
upon  the  death  of  his  father  inherited  the  place  of  one  hundred  acres. 
He  has  prospered  in  the  various  operations  that  he  has  undertaken,  mainly 
general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  has  added  to  the  property  be- 
queathed him,  now  having  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  On  this  property 
he  built,  in  1890,  a  spacious  barn,  well-lighted  and  ventilated,  in  which  his 
stock  is  surrounded  with  the  most  healthful  of  conditions,  their  quarters 
being  warm  and  snug  in  winter  and  as  cool  as  the  outside  temperature  will 
permit  in  summer.  In  1908  he  remodeled  his  house,  making  it  still  more 
comfortable  and  convenient  than  in  its  former  condition.  A  Democrat  in 
political  action,  Mr.  Shannon  has  served  the  township  as  school  director, 
supervisor  and  judge  of  elections.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Veteran 
Legion. 

Mr.  Shannon  married,  November  18,  1867,  Mary  Alloway,  born  in 
Blair  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  5,  1845,  daughter  of  Ajalon  and  Eliza 
Jane  Perkins  Alloway.  Ajalon  Alloway  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  was 
a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  after  his  marriage  in  Woodbury,  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Blair  county,  in  that  state,  where  he 
died  in  November,  1882.  His  wife  was  born  in  Louden,  Pennsylvania, 
and  survived  her  husband  eight  years,  dying  in  Blair  county,  in  1890. 
Children  of  WilHam  and  Mary  (Alloway)  Shannon:  i.  Robert,  bom 
August  25,  1868;  a  train-dispatcher  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad;  lives  in  Beaver  Falls.  2.  Aaron,  born  November  11,  1870;  city 
ticket  agent  at  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania ;  lives  at  Beaver  Falls.  3.  James, 
born  October  25,  1873 ;  manages  the  homestead.  4.  Elmer,  born  May  30, 
1876;  a  physician  of  Ivoryton,  Connecticut.  5.  Nellie,  born  February  11, 
1879;  married  Edmund  Blair;  lives  at  Koppel,  Pennsylvania.  6.  Royal, 
born  November  11,  1881 ;  a  stenographer  of  Beaver  Falls.  7.  William, 
born  March  9,  1884;  an  electrician  of  Woodlawn.  8.  Annie,  born  October 
20,   1887;  lives  at  home,  unmarried. 

Mr.  Shannon  has  recently  celebrated  his  seventy-third  birthday  and 
for  one  of  that  age  leads  a  remarkably  active  and  useful  life.  He  at- 
tends to  regular  duties  on  his  farm  and  has  recently  assisted  in  the 
hauling  of  coal  taken  from  a  three-foot  vein  extending  under  his  entire 
farm,  strenuous  labor  for  one  of  his  years.  In  the  summer  of  1913  he 
attended  the  reunion  of  the  veterans  of  the  northern  and  southern  armies 
at  the  historic  battle-field  of  Gettysburg,  and  with  the  thousands  of  his 
old  comrades  and  enemies  he  lived  over  in  memory  the  scenes  of  those 
terrible  years  and  joined  hands  with  their  former  foes.  During  this 
time  Mr.  Shannon  slept  in  a  tent,  ate  his  meals  at  the  common  mess, 
and  observed  the  military  routine  that  governed  the  encampment  except 
during  the  special  features  provided  for  the  delectation  of  the  veterans. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  68i 

As  did  the  most  of  the  soldiers,  he  endured  the  trip  and  the  stay  at  the 
battle-field  excellently,  deriving  therefrom  much  of  pleasure  and  en- 
joyment. Mr.  Shannon  attributes  the  fact  of  his  strong  and  vigorous 
physical  condition  to  his  abstinence  from  tobacco  or  alcohol  in  any  form, 
and  is  earnest  and  sincere  in  his  warnings  to  youths  to  avoid  the  cultiva- 
tion of  habits  involving  the  use  of  these  narcotics,  a  caution  that  may 
well  be  heeded,  especially  when  confirmed  and  reiterated  by  reputable 
and  well-known  authorities.  Mrs.  Shannon  is  also  a  very  well  preserved 
woman  for  one  of  her  years  and  still  presides  over  the  homestead,  being 
as  spry  and  active  as  many  women  many  years  younger. 


This  well-known  Beaver  county  name  was  worthily  borne  by 
HOLT  the  late  William  Humphrey  Holt,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Brighton  township,  a  life-long  resident  of  that  township.  He 
was  a  son  of  Samuel  Jacob  and  Mary  Ann  (Taylor)  Holt,  and  a  brother 
of  Richard  Smith  Holt,  now  president  judge  of  the  thirty-sixth  judicial 
district  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father,  Samuel  Jacob  Holt,  was  a  farmer 
of  Brighton  township  and  one  of  the  progressive  men  of  his  day. 

William  Humphrey  Holt  was  bom  in  Brighton  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  September  i8,  1858,  died  January  19,  1912.  He 
obtained  a  good  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  township,  and 
remained  at  the  home  farm  until  his  marriage.  He  was  early  taught  the 
value  of  industry  and  from  boyhood  until  assuming  man's  responsibilities 
was  his  father's  assistant.  He  began  life  for  himself  on  a  rented  farm, 
prospered,  and  later  purchased  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  Brighton  township. 
Here  he  erected  a  comfortable  dwelling,  and  lived  a  useful  and  contented 
life  until  his  death.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  RepubHcan  party, 
serving  his  township  as  school  director  and  in  other  positions  of  trust. 
He  was  public-  spirited  and  progressive,  holding  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  community.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry,  labored  for  the  prosperity  of  the  local  grange,  which  he 
served  also  as  master.  He  was  also  interested  in  other  township  enter- 
prises and  organizations  and  helpful  in  all  things. 

Mr.  Holt  married,  December  17,  1884,  Rachel  Caroline  Hamilton, 
born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  William  Densmore  and 
Amanda  Hamilton,  both  born  in  Pittsburgh  and  there  married.  William 
Densmore  Hamilton  in  early  life  was  a  carpenter,  but  in  1870  moved  to 
Beaver,  Pennsylvania,  shortly  afterward  purchasing  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  in  Brighton  township,  where  both  he  and  his  wife 
resided  until  death.  Of  the  eight  children  of  WilHam  Densmore  Hamil- 
ton two  yet  survive,  Mrs.  Rachel  C.  Holt  and  William  Densmore  (2) 
Hamilton.  Children  of  William  Humphrey  and  Rachel  C.  Holt:  i. 
Amanda  Viola,  who  attended  the  public  schools  of  Beaver  county  and 
a  Methodist  Episcopal  Female  College;  graduated  as  a  deaconess  and 
has  served  as  a  missionary  since;  she  is  now  stationed  at  the  Crittenden 


682  PENNSYLVANIA 

Home,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  she  was  also  city  missionary  at  Akron,  Ohio, 
and  served  as  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Crittenden  Home  there; 
she  has  been  very  successful  in  her  chosen  field.  2.  Agnes  Ferguson, 
married  Howard  C.  Young,  has  two  daughters,  Mary  Caroline  and  Ida 
May  Young;  resides  in  Ohio  township.  3.  John  K.,  died  aged  two  years. 
4.  Richard  Smith,  named  for  his  uncle.  Judge  Richard  S.  Holt.  5.  Mary 
Ann,  married  Wade  F.  Rail.  6.  and  7.  William  Humphrey  (2)  and 
Samuel  J.,  twins.  8.  Sarah  Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Rachel  Holt  survives  her 
husband  and  continues  her  residence  in  Brighton  township. 


Altoona,  Pennsylvania,  was  the  birthplace  of  Thomas  Rice, 
RICE  born  in  1845,  who  for  many  years  was  connected  with  rail- 
roading, bridge-building,  and  steel  manufacturing  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Carnegie  Steel  Company.  Having  filled  the  required  term  of 
service  and  having  attained  the  necessary  age  he  was  retired  from  active 
labor  and  is  a  beneficiary  of  his  former  employer's  pension  system. 
Thomas  Rice  married  (first)  Margaret  Quinn,  born  at  St.  Mary's,  Mary- 
land, in  1848,  died  in  1880;  (second)  Mary  Keliher,  of  Hamilton,  Canada, 
died  in  1913.  His  residence  is  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Rice 
is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
By  his  first  marriage  he  became  the  father  of  five  children,  of  whom 
four  died  in  childhood,  the  fifth,  William  C,  of  further  mention.  He  has 
one  child  by  his  second  marriage,  John  M.,  an  engineer,  who  has  been 
identified  with  the  Pittsburgh  filtration  plant,  chief  draughtsman  during 
construction,  the  Pittsburgh  City  Engineering  Corps  and  the  Alabama 
Power  Company,  of  Birmingham,  Alabama,  in  the  capacity  of  chief 
draughtsman  and  designing  engineer,  holding  the  latter  position  with 
the  two  last  named;  he  is  at  present  connected  with  Morris  Knowles,  the 
eminent  consulting  engineer  of  Pittsburgh. 

William  C.  Rice,  son  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  (Quinn)  Rice,  was 
born  in  Pittsburgh,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  12,  1874.  He 
obtained  his  early  education  in  St.  Mary's  Parochial  School  and  received 
instruction  in  business  forms  and  methods  in  a  night  class  at  Duff's 
Business  College,  of  Pittsburgh.  After  completing  his  education  he 
began  a  connection  with  steel  manufacturing  and  construction  that  lasted 
for  many  years,  his  beginning  being  made  in  the  capacity  of  rivet  heater 
for  the  Keystone  Bridge  Company  at  Pittsburgh.  This  continued  for 
one  year,  when  he  became  a  machinist  in  the  employ  of  the  H.  K.  Porter 
Locomotive  Works,  remaining  there  four  years.  He  next  held  positions 
with  the  Pittsburgh  Car  Works,  the  New  York  Car  Wheel  Company,  of 
New  York  City,  and  the  Consolidated  Traction  Company,  of  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  holding  the  position  of  foreman  in  the  latter  company.  He 
then  entered  the  employ  of  the  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Bridge  Company, 
m  the  mechanical  department,  leaving  after  a  year's  service  to  engage 
in  the  erection  of  pig  iron  casting  machinery  for  the  Carnegie  Steel 


BEAVER   COUNTY  683 

Company  at  the  Lucy  Furnace  Plant,  Pittsburgh,  and  in  the  direction  of 
experiments  in  the  manner  of  construction  best  adapted  to  their  uses. 
He  was  afterward  employed  in  a  similar  capacity  for  the  firm  of  Jones 
&  Laughlin,  still  later  spending  a  year  at  Struthers,  Ohio,  and  the  same 
length  of  time  at  the  Carrie  Furnace  department  of  the  Homestead  Steel 
Works.  For  the  next  three  years  he  held  the  position  of  inspector  with 
the  Carnegie  Steel  Company,  after  which  time  he  discontinued  all  his 
relations  with  the  industry  he  had  followed  for  so  long  and  with  which 
he  had  gained  a  commanding  familiarity.  Real  estate  operations  next 
claimed  his  attention  and  he  located  at  Swissvale,  Pennsylvania,  be- 
coming a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Rice  &  Facius,  a  connection  still  binding, 
the  company  maintaining  offices  in  both  Pittsburgh  and  Swissvale. 
While  a  resident  of  the  latter  town,  Mr.  Rice  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  borough  council.  In  1906  he  came  to  Midland  in  the  employ  of  the 
Midland  Steel  Company  sold  its  interests  to  the  Crucible  Steel  Corn- 
town.  This  position  he  filled  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  to  his  em- 
ployers, attending  to  the  sale  of  ground,  laying  out  and  naming  of  the 
streets,  superintending  the  erection  of  houses  for  the  employees  of  the 
company  and  collecting  the  rents  therefor.  When  in  August,  1912,  the 
Midland  Steel  Company  sold  their  interests  to  the  Crucible  Steel  Com- 
pany, Mr.  Rice  had  so  ably  discharged  the  duties  of  his  responsible 
position  that  he  was  requested  to  remain  in  his  former  capacity,  an 
offer  he  accepted.  Possibly  no  one  has  been  so  closely  connected  with 
all  of  the  influences  that  have  had  their  effect  upon  the  expansion  and 
growth  of  Midland  as  Mr.  Rice.  Beginning  his  relations  therewith 
when  it  consisted  of  nothing  but  eleven  hundred  acres  of  farm  land, 
•owned  by  Messrs.  Neele,  Kane,  Briicker  and  McCoy,  he  has  watched 
the  seeds  of  population  sprout  and  its  habitations  grow  until  the  town 
now  numbers  five  thousand  inhabitants.  His  part  in  the  development 
of  Midland  has  been  that  of  the  diligent  promoter  and  in  all  matters  of 
municipal  organization  and  government  his  services  have  been  freely 
and  willingly  rendered.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Midland  Savings  and 
Trust  Company,  in  whose  formation  he  assisted.  He  is  an  Independent 
in  political  action,  and  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church.  Mr.  Rice  holds  membership  in  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  of  Rochester,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Pittsburgh 
Athletic  Club,  and  the  Pittsburgh  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Mr.  Rice  married,  in  February,  1907,  Tirzah  M.  Farrell,  of  Pitts- 
"burgh,  daughter  of  William  J.  and  Ida  (McLaughlin)  Farrell.  William  J. 
Farrell  was  a  member  of  an  old  Maryland  family,  and  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland, that  state.  Following  contracting  as  an  occupation  he  came  to 
Pittsburgh  where  he  married  in  1880,  and  where  he  was  residing  at  his 
death  in  1905.  His  wife,  Ida,  was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Tirzah 
(Patch)  McLaughHn,  her  mother  a  native  of  England  and  her  father 
of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.     Her  father  was  captain  of  a  steamboat 


684  PENNSYLVANIA 

plying  the  Ohio  river,  and  during  the  Civil  war  was  in  the  Union  service. 
The  mother  of  Mrs.  Farrell  is  still  living,  aged  eighty-two  years.  Wil- 
liam J.  and  Ida  (McLaughlin)  Farrell  were  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  seven  are  living. 

Children  of  William  C.  and  Tirzah  M.  (Farrell)  Rice:  George  H., 
William  C.  (2),  Thomas  J.  Mr.  Rice's  home  is  in  Beaver,  Pennsylvania, 
although  business  interests  require  that  he  spend  much  of  his  time  in 
Midland  and  Pittsburgh. 


Brauer  is  a  name  which  is  frequently  heard  in  this  country, 
BRAUER     and  the  original  holder  of  it  was  probably  engaged  in 
brewing,  as  it  literally  signifies  a  brewer. 

(I)  John  Brauer  was  born  in  Germany,  October  17,  1836,  died  March 
25,  1914.  He  went  with  his  wife  to  Pomeroy,  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  in 
the  year  1870.  He  remained  there  until  1881,  working  in  the  salt  mines, 
and  then  removed  to  Freedom,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
obtained  employment  in  the  tumbler  works.  In  1898  he  retired  to  spend 
the  remainder  of  his  days  in  quiet  and  comfort.  He  was  an  Independent 
in  his  political  opinions,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He 
married,  in  Germany,  Catherine  Bauer,  born  November  8,  1843,  and  has 
children :  Frank  W.,  see  forward ;  Catherine,  John  Jr.,  Henry  and  Tillie, 
all  now  living. 

(II)  Frank  W.  Brauer,  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Bauer)  Brauer, 
was  born  in  Germany,  April  5,  1867.  He  was  but  three  years  of  age 
when  he  was  brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents,  and  he  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Pomeroy,  Ohio.  When  he  came  to  Freedom,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  he  also  found  employment  in  the  tumbler  factory, 
and  remained  with  this  concern  until  1889.  He  then  removed  to  East 
Liverpool,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  in  a  glass  house  for  a  period  of  six 
years,  and  in  1895  returned  to  Freedom.  He  obtained  a  position  in  the 
wholesale  house  of  P.  F.  Lewis,  and  in  1904  became  associated  with 
Simon  E.  Holsinger,  wholesale  liquor  dealer.  About  two  years  later  he 
severed  this  connection  and  removed  to  Aliquippa,  where  he  established 
himself  in  business  as  a  dealer  in  newspapers,  books,  confectionery,  and 
combined  with  this  a  five  and  ten-cent  store.  He  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  this  enterprise.  He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Brauer  married,  February  10,  1904,  Mary  Magdalena,  bom  in 
Germany,  October  5,  1879,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rosena  (Ullrich) 
Waechtler,  natives  of  Germany,  the  former  named  born  September  18, 
1856,  and  the  latter  named  born  October  31,  1855,  who  came  to  Pitts- 
burgh in  1891,  removed  to  Aliquippa  in  1895,  and  still  reside  there.  They 
have  children :  Mary  Magdalena,  mentioned  above ;  Conrad,  Barbara  and 
George.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brauer  have  children;  George  Francis,  born 
November  8,  1904;  Herman,  born  May  17,  1907;  Anna,  born  November 
12,  1908;  Catherine,  born  April  6,  1910. 


^enyu  •^lajord 


BEAVER    COUNTY  685 

This  is  a  German  name,  represented    in    Beaver    county, 
MAJORS     Pennsylvania,   seemingly  by   the  descendants  of  several 
immigrants  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  at  various  times 
from  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  down  to  recent  years. 

(I)  Samuel  Majors  was  born  and  reared  in  Virginia,  from  whence 
he  migrated  to  Dougherty  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 

(II)  George  Majors,  son  of  Samuel  Majors,  was  born  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1805,  died  in  1888.  He  was  the  owner  of  two 
fine  farms,  one  in  Daugherty  township,  the  other  in  New  Sewickley 
township.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  church.  He  married  Martha  Musser,  also  a  native  of 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  children:  Mary,  married 
John  Eaton,  both  deceased;  Sarah  Jane,  now  deceased,  married  Jackson 
Boggs;  Martha,  married  CorneHus  Miller,  and  lives  in  New  Sewickley 
township ;  Abner,  see  forward ;  Robinson,  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years. 

(III)  Abner  Majors,  son  of  George  and  Martha  (Musser)  Majors, 
was  born  in  Daugherty  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  4, 
1837,  died  September  4,  1910.  He  was  reared  on  the  homestead  farm, 
and  upon  the  death  of  his  father  he  purchased  the  interests  in  this  farm 
of  the  other  heirs,  and  in  the  course  of  time  added  more  land  to  it,  so 
that  at  the  time  of  his  death  it  contained  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
acres.  While  he  was  engaged  to  a  certain  extent  in  general  farming, 
he  made  more  of  a  specialty  of  fruit  growing,  and  his  orchard  fruits  and 
strawberries  were  justly  celebrated.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party.  He  married,  August  26,  1854,  Mary  Ann  Paine,  born  in  Daugherty 
township,  Beaver  county,  November  18,  1836.  She  was  a  daughter  of  David 
Paine,  who  died  in  1844,  and  Ura  (Majors)  Paine,  who  died  in  1888,  and 
who  married  (second)  Conrad  Frederick,  but  had  no  children  by  her  second 
marriage.  Mary  Ann  (Paine)  Majors  had  sisters  and  brothers  as  follows: 
Eliza,  married  Sam  Musser,  both  deceased;  Nancy,  married  John  Hickey, 
both  deceased;  Samuel,  died  in  early  youth;  Samuel,  deceased.  Abner  and 
Mary  Ann  (Paine)  Majors  had  children:  William,  died  at  the  age  of  three 
weeks;  John,  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years;  a  son,  died 
when  a  few  weeks  old;  George  Henry,  see  forward;  Alfred,  a  farmer,  mar- 
ried Anna  McKee,  and  lives  in  Daugherty  township;  Harley,  also  a  farmer, 
married  Rebecca  Stanley;  Frank  C,  married  Mary  Rhodes;  Benjamin,  a 
farmer,  married  Elsie  Blinn ;  Hugh,  married  Mary  E.  Swartz ;  Emma,  mar- 
ried Joseph  Brewer. 

(IV)  George  Henry  Majors,  son  of  Abner  and  Mary  Ann  (Paine) 
Majors,  was  born  in  Daugherty  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 28,  1859.  He  attended  what  was  known  as  the  Kettlewood  District 
School,  where  he  acquired  a  fairly  good  education  for  that  time.  He  was 
the  able  assistant  of  his  father  in  the  conduct  and  management  of  the  farm, 


686  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  after  his  marriage  he  purchased  nineteen  acres  for  himself.  He  con- 
tinued to  work  for  his  father  until  1905,  and  since  that  time  has  devoted 
himself  to  the  raising  of  asparagus,  grapes,  and  orchard  fruits  of  fine 
varieties.  In  191 1  he  built  a  new  house  for  himself  which  is  fitted  up  with 
all  modern  conveniences.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  whatever  concerns 
the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Oak  Grove  Presby- 
terian Church.  Mr.  Majors  married,  April  6,  1905,  Mary  Christina  Koch, 
bom  in  Franklin  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  29,  1862, 
daughter  of  Powell  and  Christina  (Swientzburg)  Koch,  the  former  having 
been  a  farmer,  and  both  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Majors  have  no 
children. 


It  is  interesting  and  curious  to  note  that  of  the  three  gen- 
McGEORGE  erations  of  this  branch  of  the  McGeorge  family  in  a  direct 
line  who  have  been  residents  in  America  and  the  United 
States,  only  one  has  been  American-born,  the  emigrant,  William,  claiming 
Scotland  as  his  birthplace,  his  son,  William,  first  seeing  light  on  the  high 
seas,  and  finally  James,  a  native  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  As  to 
the  name  McGeorge,  and  the  fact  of  the  residence  of  the  family  in  the  ex- 
treme southern  portion  of  Scotland,  there  is  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that 
they  were  originally  of  the  McGregor  clan,  but  that,  because  of  religious 
differences,  they  renounced  relation  to  that  race  of  warriors  and  founded 
the  family  of  McGeorge  in  the  south  of  Scotland. 

In  this  region  this  record  begins  with  two  brothers,  the  first  of  a  line 
of  three  Williams  and  Cornelius.  Cornelius  McGeorge  entered  the  Pres- 
byterian ministry  and  gave  his  life  to  the  service  of  that  church,  leaving 
Scotland  and  coming  to  the  colonies  in  1768,  settling  in  Chenango  county, 
New  York,  there  laboring  in  the  cause  of  the  Master  until  his  death,  or- 
ganizing several  small  churches  throughout  the  county  and  holding  services 
in  all  its  districts  as  frequently  as  he  could  complete  the  circuit  of  towns 
and  villages. 

(I)  William  McGeorge  remained  in  his  native  land,  and  over  its  hills 
and  in  its  valleys  watched  his  sheep  until  his  death,  just  as  over  the  sea, 
three  thousand  miles  distant,  his  brother  shepherded  his  human  flocks  and 
guided  them  into  the  fold.  William  McGeorge  had  a  son,  William,  the 
American  emigrant. 

(II)  William  (2)  McGeorge,  before  his  departure  for  the  colonies, 
married  Julia  Haden.  The  story  of  his  courtship  and  successful  wooing 
has  a  touch  of  human  nature  that  renders  it  of  more  than  passing  interest. 
Julia  Haden  was  the  daughter  of  a  retired  sea  captain,  who  in  his  maritime 
ventures  had  amassed  abundant  wealth.  Although  the  father  of  his  daugh- 
ter's suitor  was  a  gentleman  highly  regarded  in  the  neighborhood  and  was  the 
possessor  of  a  comfortable  fortune  from  the  successful  tending  of  his  flocks, 
Captain  Haden  was  irrevocably  opposed  to  the  match,  even,  so  the  story 


BEAVER   COUNTY  687 

runs,  going  to  the  lengths  of  offering  his  daughter  as  many  gold  pieces  as 
would  cover  the  top  of  a  Spanish  table.  That  the  young  English  girl  (her 
father's  estate  was  just  across  the  boundary)  married  William  (2)  Mc- 
George  in  1792  is  sufficient  proof  of  the  futility  of  her  father's  efforts  to 
dissuade  her  from  the  course  upon  which  she  had  decided.  The  following 
year  they  immigrated  to  the  United  States,  their  first  child  being  born  on 
the  way  across,  and  settled  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  about  ten 
miles  south  of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh.  He  never  purchased  in  that  county, 
but  in  1798  journeyed  to  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  and  there 
bought  a  farm,  although  he  did  not  make  his  home  there  until  1806.  In 
Allegheny  county  he  rented  farms,  which  he  cultivated  with  profitable  suc- 
cess, each  fall  making  a  practice  of  loading  a  large  wagon,  drawn  by  four 
horses,  with  the  products  of  his  farm,  and  crossing  the  mountains  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  sold  his  products,  receiving  in  payment  provisions  and 
other  articles  and  commodities  necessary  and  difficult  to  obtain  in  the  west. 
Upon  his  return  to  his  home,  he  drove  through  the  surrounding  neighbor- 
hood with  his  loaded  team,  finding  a  ready  market  for  his  goods  and  reap- 
ing a  much  larger  profit  than  had  be  accepted  cash  for  his  farm  products. 
He  was  a  shrewd  business  man  and  in  a  later  day  and  generation,  with  wider 
fields  of  endeavor  and  opportunity,  would  have  proved  his  worth  among  the 
ablest  of  financiers.  In  the  season  when  farm  work  was  not  particularly 
pressing  he  sold  goods  between  Pittsburgh  and  Qeveland,  carrying  his 
wares  in  large  saddle-bags.  He  came  to  Beaver  county  in  1798,  first  pur- 
chasing two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Darlington  township,  where  James 
McGeorge  now  lives,  and  later  four  hundred  acres  additional,  later  occupied 
by  his  son,  James.  William  McGeorge  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church,  regular  in  his  attendance  and  strict  in  his  observance 
of  all  religious  laws,  especially  of  those  regarding  manual  labor  on  the  Sab- 
bath. His  children  he  reared  in  strict  loyalty  and  obedience,  and  despite 
the  many  chafing  regulations  of  conduct  that  he  imposed  upon  them,  held 
their  loving  regard,  for  there  was  no  rule  which  they  were  compelled  to  obey 
that  was  not  binding  upon  him.  He  donated  the  ground  upon  which  the 
Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  was  later  built,  but  died  before  its  erection, 
his  death  occurring  in  1815,  aged  fifty-five  years.  His  wife,  Julia,  attained 
the  unusual  age  of  ninety-seven  years,  although  in  her  younger  days  she  had 
been  considered  of  frail  and  delicate  health.  Children  of  William  (2)  and 
Julia  (Haden)  McGeorge:  i.  William,  of  whom  further.  2.  James,  died 
upon  the  part  of  his  father's  estate  that  he  inherited  at  the  latter's  death. 
3.  Jane,  married  William  Jones;  lived  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Sarah,  married  William  Young;  their  home  was 
in  Big  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Mary,  married 
Joseph  Gibson;  resided  in  South  Beaver  township. 

(Ill)  William  (3)  McGeorge,  son  of  William  (2)  and  Julia  (Haden) 
McGeorge,  was  born  on  a  ship  bound  for  the  American  shore  in  mid-ocean, 
1793,  died  October  11,  1854.     His  early  boyhood  was  spent  in  Allegheny 


688  PENNSYLVANIA 

county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1806  he  came  to  Darlington  township  with 
his  father  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  homestead  in  that  township.  As 
his  share  of  the  Darlington  township  farm  he  received  two  hundred  acres, 
later  buying  one  hundred  acres  of  land  now  occupied  by  the  town  of  Enon, 
and  assisted  in  laying  out  the  lots.  He  also  acquired,  for  three  dollars  an 
acre,  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  which 
was  sold  by  his  heirs,  and  is  now  valued  at  two  hundred  dollars  an  acre, 
rich  oil  wells  having  been  struck  on  the  property.  In  his  manhood  he  ad- 
hered to  the  religion  of  his  youth,  the  Reformed  Presbyterian,  and  being 
active  in  church  work,  he  lived  a  model  and  exemplary  existence  in  his 
daily  life.  In  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  became  an  extensive  sheep 
raiser,  owned  large  flocks,  and  was  uniformly  successful  in  that  occupation, 
which  his  grandfather,  the  first  William,  had  followed  in  Scotland  many 
years  before.  He  married  Nancy  A.  Young,  born  in  Allegheny  county, 
Pennsylvania,  February  15,  1798,  died  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  June  14,  1886,  daughter  of  John  Young.  John  Young 
was  bom  in  Ireland,  and  there  married,  coming  with  four  brothers  to  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  settling  on  rented  farms  south  of  the  Ohio  river. 
He  was  frugal  and  saving  in  his  manner  of  life  and  soon  possessed  suffi- 
cient funds  to  purchase  a  farm  in  Big  Beaver  township,  on  which  he  lived 
until  his  death,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  He  was  an  elder  of  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church.  His  children:  i.  William,  made  his  home  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio.  2.  John,  lived  near  his  brother,  William.  3.  Robert,  a  farmer 
of  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Rebecca,  married  William  Scott; 
resided  in  Chippewa  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Jane,  mar- 
ried William  McCampbell ;  lived  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  7. 
Nancy  A.,  of  previous  mention,  married  William  (3)  McGeorge.  Children 
of  William  (3)  and  Nancy  A.  (Young)  McGeorge:  i.  Margery  Jane,  de- 
ceased; married  John  Gibson,  who  survives  her,  living  in  Bellevue,  Penn- 
sylvania. 2.  Mary  Ann,  married  James  McKinney;  lived  first  in  Butler 
county,  later  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  3.  James,  of  whom  further.  4. 
Elizabeth,  deceased;  married  (first)  Rev.  Samuel  Sterrett,  deceased;  (sec- 
ond) Michael  George,  who  lived  in  Mansfield,  Ohio.  5.  Margaret,  died  aged 
seventeen  years.  6.  Jemimah,  deceased;  married  Isaac  Kitchen;  lived  in 
East  Liberty,  Pennsylvania. 

(IV)  James  McGeorge,  only  son  and  third  child  of  William  (3)  and 
Nancy  A.  (Young)  McGeorge,  was  born  in  a  log  house  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives,  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  5, 
1833.  He  grew  to  maturity  on  his  father's  farm,  attending  a  small  brick 
school  in  the  woods  known  as  the  McGeorge  school,  finishing  his  studies  at 
the  Greersburg  Academy,  where  Samuel  B.  Wilson  and  James  Scott  were  the 
masters  who  directed  the  schooling.  The  only  boy  in  a  family  of  six,  there 
were  many  duties  for  him  to  perform  on  the  home  farm,  and  he  remained 
at  home  until  his  father's  death,  when  he  inherited  the  homestead,  where 
he  resides  at  the  present  time.    The  house  in  which  he  lives,  a  fine,  sub- 


BEAVER   COUNTY  689 

stantial  country  residence,  was  built  by  his  father  in  1846,  the  large  barns 
on  the  property  antedating  the  house  by  two  years.  These  last  are  occupied 
by  a  herd  of  short-horn  cattle  of  excellent  stock,  from  which  he  obtains  a 
large  quantity  of  milk  daily,  and  has  for  the  past  thirty  years  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  milk  business,  supplying  the  local  dealers  with  much  of  their 
product.  Mr.  McGeorge  is  a  communicant  of  the  family  faith,  belonging 
to  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  the  oldest  member  of  the  con- 
gregation. Four  times  he  has  been  honored  by  election  to  the  office  of  elder 
in  the  organization,  but  each  time  has  refused  the  election,  his  modest  and 
unassuming  nature  making  his  loath  to  place  himself  in  the  public  eye.  He 
has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs  as  a  private  citizen,  never  having  entered 
the  public  service,  and  in  the  cause  of  municipal  improvements  has  labored 
with  good  effect.  One  of  the  patriarchs  of  the  locality,  he  still  is  actively 
interested  in  all  affairs  of  the  day,  and  bears  his  four-score  years  remark- 
ably well,  his  five  feet  eleven  inches  of  sturdy  height  belying  the  weight  of 
so  great  a  burden. 

He  married,  November  17,  1864,  Fannie  Gettis  Craig,  born  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania,  February  18,  1847,  died  August  8,  1910,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Margaret  (Gettis)  Craig.  Both  of  her  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland, 
he  born  in  Belfast,  about  1798,  she  in  county  Down,  about  1807.  They  were 
married  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  September  2,  1825,  in  which  city  he 
was  a  manufacturer  of  hand-made  nails.  Their  home  was  on  the  present 
site  of  the  Nixon  Theatre.  Thomas  and  Margaret  (Gettis)  Craig  were  the 
parents  of:  i.  Jane,  born  September  22,  1826,  died  March  2,  1828.  2. 
Hamilton,  born  July  18,  1828,  died  March  26,  1908;  married  Martha  Bacon; 
in  partnership  with  two  of  his  brothers,  he  operated  a  brass  foundry  in  Pitts- 
burgh which  he  conducted  for  many  years.  3.  Thomas  J.,  born  November 
12,  1830,  died  August  21,  1856.  4.  Margaret  J.,  born  September  12,  1832, 
died  March  11,  1889;  married  Brice  McGinston;  lived  in  Pittsburgh.  5. 
Mary  Ann,  born  May  19,  1834,  died  October  9,  1837.  6.  Elizabeth,  born 
April  4,  1836,  died  April  27,  1837.  7.  Mary,  born  February  18,  1838,  died 
November  25,  1856.  8.  James,  born  June  i,  1840,  died  February  3,  1899; 
married  Anna  Armstrong;  he  served  in  the  Civil  War  as  captain  of  Com- 
pany H,  Twenty-third  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry  and  was 
wounded  at  Cold  Harbor.  9.  Sarah  Elizabeth,  bom  June  18,  1842,  unmar- 
ried; has  lived  with  her  brother-in-law,  James  McGeorge,  since  the  death 
of  his  wife.  10.  David  Kerr,  born  October  12,  1844,  died  February  12,  1872, 
unmarried.  11.  Fannie  Gettis,  of  previous  mention,  married  James  Mc- 
George. 12.  Minerva  Y.,  born  June  16,  1849,  died  in  February,  1913 ;  mar- 
ried Thomas  C.  McAnlis;  lived  at  Wampum,  Pennsylvania. 

Children  of  James  and  Fannie  Gettis  (Craig)  McGeorge:  i.  Margaret 
Blanche,  born  September  29,  1866;  married  Joseph  Richards,  a  ranch-owner 
of  Pacific  Beach,  San  Diego  county,  California,  their  home.  2.  William 
Qiffton,  born  April  14,  1870;  manages  the  home  farm  for  his  father.  3. 
Minerva  Craig,  born  November  i,  1873 ;  lives  unmarried  at  home.  4.  Thomas 


690  PENNSYLVANIA 

Hamilton,  born  March  6,  1876;  at  the  present  time  (1913)  traveling  in 
California.  5.  Elizabeth  Sterrett,  born  April  23,  1878;  married  Knox 
Young,  a  real  estate  dealer;  lives  in  Belleview,  a  suburb  of  Pittsburgh.  6. 
Fannie,  born  February  9,  1880,  died  October  13,  1881.  7.  Edward  Glenn, 
born  July  23,  1882,  died  October  28,  1887. 


This  is  one  of  the  many  Scotch  names  which  have  been 
McHATTIE     imported  either  directly  or  by  way  of  Northern  Ireland, 

and  whose  representatives  have  contributed  to  the  material 
and  moral  advancement  of  the  nation.  A  considerable  number  of  these 
families  still  demonstrate  the  Scotch  characteristics  of  thrift  and  industry 
which  make  for  the  best  form  of  citizenship. 

(I)  Peter  McHattie,  a  native  of  Scotland,  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1859,  with  his  wife,  Isabella,  also  born  in  Scotland,  to  make  his  home  with 
his  son,  James,  who  had  already  established  himself  at  Leetsdale,  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania.  In  this  home  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives,  retired  from  business  cares.  Both  were  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Children:  i.  George,  married  Jane  Jelly;  died  at  Patter- 
son Heights,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.    2.  James,  see  forward.    3.  Peter, 

married  Elsie  Dufif ;  lives  near  EUwood.    4.  William,  married ,  and  lives 

retired  at  Aliquippa,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Adam,  a  merchant 
in  California.  6.  Belle,  married  William  Russell;  died  at  Sewickley,  Alle- 
gheny county,  Pennsylvania.  7.  Ellen,  married  Lyman  Woodworth;  lives 
at  McKeesport,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  8.  Jessie,  married  Edward 
Tracy;  died  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  9.  Elsie,  deceased;  married  John 
Probert;  lived  in  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania.  10.  Jane,  died  in  early  youth 
in  Scotland. 

(II)  James  McHattie,  son  of  Peter  and  Isabella  McHattie,  was  born 
near  Glasgow,  Scotland,  March  7,  1828,  died  in  1883.  His  education  was 
acquired  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  the  company  of  an  elder  brother,  George.  They  settled  at 
first  near  Pittsburgh  and  a  few  years  later  rented  a  farm  near  Leetsdale,  Al- 
legheny county,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  lived  for  some  years.  In  1875  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  in  Big  Beaver  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  and  on 
which  some  of  his  daughters  are  living  at  the  present  time.  His  methodical 
and  progressive  management  of  this  land  was  not  without  the  desired 
results,  and  he  became  very  prosperous.  He  erected  a  number  of  modern 
and  commodious  buildings,  and  improved  the  property  to  the  utmost.  He 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party,  in  whose  behalf  he  was 
an  ardent  worker,  and  always  took  the  deepest  interest  in  whatever  concerned 
the  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  he  resided.  Mr.  McHattie  married, 
in  October,  1858,  Grace  Lafiferty,  born  in  Ireland,  died  in  New  Galilee, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Her  parents  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Ireland, 
and  she  had  a  brother,  William,  and  two  sisters,  Nancy  (LaflFerty)  Waugh, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  691 

and  Margaret  (Lafferty)  McLaughlin,  who  came  to  America,  and  are  now 
also  deceased.  Mrs.  McHattie  died  February  27,  191 1,  at  the  age  of  almost 
eighty  years.  She  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church.  They  had  children:  i.  Rebecca  W.,  married  Charles  Walker; 
lives  in  New  Galilee;  they  have  children:  James  Arnot,  a  student  in  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  in  Philadelphia;  Wendell  Norwood,  a  farmer, 
lives  at  home.  2.  James  L.,  a  farmer;  married  Anna  Marshall,  and  has 
children:  Grace  Elizabeth  and  James  Dale;  he  lives  at  New  Galilee.  3. 
William  G.,  a  farmer  of  Big  Beaver  township ;  married  Eva  Patterson,  and 
has  children :  Norman  Patterson  and  Kenneth  Wayne.  4.  Anna  S.  5.  Edith 
F.    6.  Isabella,  died  in  infancy.    7.  Jennie,  also  died  in  infancy. 


Henry  McKallip,  a  resident  of  Leechburg,  Armstrong 
McKALLIP  county,  Pennsylvania,  was  a  merchant  conducting  a  gen- 
eral store  in  that  town  until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife 
were  Presbyterians.  He  married  Mary  Keely,  and  had  children:  Labanna, 
now  deceased,  was  a  resident  of  Pittsburgh ;  Amanda,  married  Dr.  Arm- 
strong, now  lives  in  Leechburg,  Pennsylvania ;  Josephine,  married  a  Mr.  Pin- 
kerton,  of  Leechburg,  now  deceased;  John  Keely,  see  forward;  James  A., 
of  Leechburg;  Mary  H.,  married  Henry  Caldwell,  and  lives  in  New  Ken- 
sington, Pennsylvania. 

Rev.  John  Keely  McKallip,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Keely)  McKal- 
lip, was  born  in  Leechburg,  Armstrong  county,  Pennsylvania,  September 
19,  1846,  died  July  17,  1903.  His  preparatory  education  was  obtained  in 
the  schools  in  Leechburg,  and  he  then  became  a  student  at  the  Washington 
and  Jefferson  University,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1870. 
He  next  matriculated  at  the  Western  Theological  School  in  Allegheny,  and 
in  due  time  was  ordained  a  Presbyterian  minister.  His  first  charge  was  at 
Elizabethtown,  Kentucky,  and  from  there  he  went  in  succession  to  Bellaire, 
Ohio,  seven  years;  Beaver,  Pennsylvania,  eight  years;  Punxsutawney, 
Pennsylvania,  three  years ;  East  Brady,  Pennsylvania,  two  years ;  about  this 
time  his  health  had  become  so  impaired  by  reason  of  his  devoted  and  strenu- 
ous labors  that  he  was  obliged  to  retire  to  Parnassus,  Pennsylvania,  where 
his  death  occurred.  Rev.  McKallip  was  a  fine  orator  and  a  successful 
preacher.  After  his  death  his  widow  returned  to  the  homestead  farm  in 
Borough  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  her  mother  and  her 
brother  and  sister,  John  and  Virginia,  were  living.  Her  mother  died  in  1907, 
but  she  is  still  living  there  with  her  brother  and  sister,  on  the  old  home  place 
on  the  bluffs  overlooking  the  Ohio  river,  the  city  of  Beaver  and  the  village 
of  Vanport,  Pennsylvania.  Rev.  McKallip  married,  December  11,  1888, 
Katherine  M.  Latshaw,  born  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa  (see  Latshaw  IV).  They 
had  children:  Elizabeth,  born  October  19,  1889,  married  George  Dando, 
manager  of  the  Dando  Brick  Works,  at  Vanport,  Pennsylvania;  Archibald 
H.,  born  January  27,  1891,  resides  with  his  mother;  Catherine  Virginia, 
born  January  i,  1899,  died  August  25,  1908. 


692  PENNSYLVANIA 

(The  Latshaw  Line.) 

(I)  Peter  Latshaw,  born  on  the  French  borders  of  the  Rhine  in  Alsace- 
Lorraine,  emigrated  with  three  bothers  to  America.  One  of  these  died 
at  sea.  Another,  a  jeweler  by  trade,  settled  in  Baltimore,  and  was  murdered 
there.  Another,  Christopher  Latshaw,  took  up  a  section  of  land  near  Paris, 
Ontario,  Canada,  and  was  a  millwright  by  trade.  His  descendants  are  still 
living  there.  Peter  Latshaw,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Katherine  M. 
(Latshaw)  McKallip,  was  a  farmer  and  settled  at  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania. 
That  he  was  a  man  of  wealth  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  there  is  in  the 
possession  of  his  great-grandchildren  a  fine  oil  painting  of  him,  a  luxury 
which  could  be  indulged  in  only  by  the  very  wealthy  in  those  days.  He 
married  Anne  Chase  and  had  children  as  follows:  John,  see  forward; 
Joseph,  Christian,  Sarah,  Anne,  Harriet,  Elizabeth  (Polly),  Rebecca,  Bar- 
bara, Mary. 

(H)  John  Latshaw,  son  of  Peter  Latshaw,  was  bom  in  Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1786,  died  in  1848.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  the  town  of 
his  birth,  and  then  engaged  in  the  livery  business,  in  which  he  was  very 
successful.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  of 
which  his  parents  had  been  members.  He  married  Catherine  Haines  and 
they  had  one  child. 

(HI)  Peter  William  Henry  Latshaw,  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Haines)  Latshaw,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  in  1826,  died 
in  1881.  At  the  age  of  about  eighteen  years  he  went  to  Pittsburgh,  and 
there  obtained  a  clerical  position.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  with  which  he  was  iden- 
tified for  a  period  of  seven  years.  While  there  he  was  active  in  the  interests 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  served  a  term  as  mayor  of  the  city  of  Des 
Moines.  He  then  returned  to  Pittsburgh,  where  for  a  time  he  held  a  posi- 
tion as  bookkeeper  and  then  established  himself  in  the  malting  business.  He 
was  also  associated  with  Joshua  W.  Rose  in  the  conduct  and  operation  of  the 
Eagle  Cotton  Mills.  During  two  years  of  the  Civil  War  he  was  located  at 
Indianapolis  and  Columbus,  as  paymaster.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  married  Elizabeth  C.  Aughinbaugh,  born  in 
Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  June  6,  1833,  died  in  December,  1907.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Anne  (Cook)  Aughinbaugh,  both  born 
near  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  a  school  teacher.  When 
he  had  reached  middle  age  he  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  where  he  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years.  They  had  children :  Mary,  died  in  childhood ; 
David,  a  tinner  by  trade;  Susan;  Anne;  Eleanor;  Sarah;  Elizabeth  C,  mar- 
ried Peter  William  Henry  Latshaw;  Thomas,  twin  of  Elizabeth  C,  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Latshaw  had  children:  i.  Virginia,  unmarried,  lives 
en  the  old  homestead.  2.  John  A.,  born  November  6,  1852;  spent  his  early 
years  in  Pittsburgh,  where  he  attended  the  Birmingham  and  first  ward 
schools;  he  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age  when  he  commenced  to  work 
for  the  Eagle  Cotton  Mills,  remaining  with  them  until  he  was  twenty  years 


BEAVER    COUNTY  693 

of  age;  he  next  spent  several  years  in  farming,  mostly  near  Smithfield, 
Ohio,  and  in  i88i,  with  his  mother,  two  sisters  and  brother,  Joseph,  came 
to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  purchased  the  Oak  Hill  Farm, 
in  Borough  township,  which  he  has  since  cultivated  very  successfully;  he 
has  served  as  township  commissioner  and  as  school  directcor  and  is  an  influ- 
ential member  of  the  Washington  party ;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  since  his  boyhood;  he  is  unmarried.  3.  William  H.,  who  died 
in  191 1,  was  vice-president  of  the  National  Tube  Company,  and  lived  in 
Pittsburgh ;  he  married  Annie  W.  Filman,  and  had  children :  Frances, 
Henry,  William.  4.  Joseph  W.,  manager  of  the  Pennsylvania  Tube  Works, 
of  Pittsburgh;  married  (first)  Alice  Scott,  (second)  Laura  Bebout;  chil- 
dren: Chester,  Walter,  Hart,  Dorothy,  Helen  and  an  infant.  5.  Katherine 
M.,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Katherine  M.  Latshaw,  daughter  of  Peter  William  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  C.  (Aughinbaugh)  Latshaw,  married  Rev.  John  Keely  McKalHp 
(see  McKallip). 


The  Douthitt   family  has  been  resident  in  the  state  of 
DOUTHITT     Pennsylvania  for  a  number  of  generations,  and  they  were 

among  the  pioneer  settlers  in  some  sections  of  the  state. 
At  first  they  were  only  heard  of  in  the  eastern  portion,  but  now  they  are  to 
be  found  throughout  the  state. 

(I)  Joseph  Douthitt,  who  was  born  in  the  eastern  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, came  to  Beaver  county,  that  state,  with  his  parents,  who  located  on 
a  farm  which  still  is  the  old  Douthitt  place  in  Chippewa  township.  They 
next  removed  to  Darlington  township  in  the  same  county,  and  settled  for 
the  time  on  Little  Beaver  creek.  Later  they  purchased  two  hundred  acres, 
this  constituting  a  farm  on  which  their  granddaughter,  Emma  (Douthitt) 
Douthitt,  now  resides.  Joseph  Douthitt  was  an  extensive  cattle  raiser,  and 
the  house  in  which  he  lived  was  on  the  old  stage  road  between  Pittsburgh 
and  Cleveland.  He  kept  a  tavern  on  the  farm  for  twenty-five  years.  He 
was  a  prominent  factor  in  Democratic  councils  and  served  as  director  of 
the  poor  for  Beaver  county  for  many  years.  He  married  Jane  McMinn, 
also  bom  in  the  eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  children:  i. 
Robert,  fell  off  a  load  of  coal  in  childhood  and  was  killed.  2.  Emeline,  mar- 
ried John  McCarter;  lived  in  Chippewa  township;  both  now  deceased.  3. 
Caroline,  married  Charles  Walker;  lived  in  Missouri.  4.  Maria,  married 
Frederick  Beck;  lived  near  Cleveland,  Ohio.  5.  Henry,  see  forward.  6. 
Eliza  Jane,  married  Robert  Barnes ;  lives  in  Tennessee. 

(H)  Henry  Douthitt,  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane  (McMinn)  Douthitt,  was 
born  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, March  2,  1838,  died  October  10,  1899.  He  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm,  with  the  cultivation  of  which  he  assisted  at  a  very  early  age. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  he  purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs, 
and  successfully  managed  it  alone  until  his  death.    He  was  extensively  en- 


694  PENNSYLVANIA 

gaged  in  the  dairy  business,  and  had  a  herd  of  about  forty  cattle  He  owned  two 
hundred  and  fifty-two  acres  of  land,  and  his  farm  was  considered  a  model 
of  its  size  and  kind  in  the  section.  He  was  a  strong  Democrat  in  his  politi- 
cal views,  and  filled  all  the  local  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  township.  Henry 
Douthitt  married  Mary  Kane,  born  near  Cannelton,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  2,  1838,  died  July  6,  1872  (see  Kane  H).  They  had  children: 
I.  Frank  Kane,  born  August  28,  1863,  died  August  17,  1887.  2.  Emma, 
see  forward.  3.  Joseph  E.,  born  March  29,  1867,  died  September  26,  1900. 
4.  Marian,  died  in  infancy. 

(HI)  Emma  Douthitt,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Kane)  Douthitt, 
was  born  on  the  homestead  in  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, December  9,  1865.  She  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
at  the  Greersburg  Academy  at  Darlington.  She  married,  December  5,  1900, 
Alexander  C.  Douthitt,  born  near  Indiana,  Indiana  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  22,  1850.  He  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
then  learned  the  trade  of  bricklaying  under  the  supervision  of  his  father. 
Later  he  worked  in  Pittsburgh,  and  after  his  marriage  he  took  charge  of  the 
farm  owned  by  his  wife.  In  December,  1912,  he  was  stricken  with  paraly- 
sis, and  has  been  in  poor  health  since  that  time.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  is  the  son  of  John  Douthitt,  born  in  Chippewa  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  17,  1816,  died  in  January,  1902,  and 
Jane  (Howe)  Douthitt,  who  was  born  in  Wales  in  1822,  died  in  this  coun- 
try in  1900,  having  come  here  in  childhood.  John  Douthitt  was  a  bricklayer 
by  trade  and  during  his  early  manhood  traveled  to  the  west.  He  lived  in 
Indiana  county  for  many  years  and  was  a  man  of  fine  physique.  At  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years  he  built  an  addition  to  the  house  in  which  his 
daughter  still  resides.  He  had  children:  i.  Martin,  deceased;  was  a  news- 
paper reporter  and  lived  in  Pittsburgh.  2.  John,  a  bricklayer ;  lives  in  Pitts- 
burgh. 3.  Alexander  C,  who  married  Emma  Douthitt,  as  above  mentioned. 
4.  Joseph,  a  bricklayer;  lives  in  Oklahoma.  5.  Edward,  a  bricklayer.  6. 
Richard,  unmarried;  lives  in  Beaver  Falls.  7.  Minerva,  died  young.  8. 
Ruth,  unmarried ;  lives  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  Alexander  C.  and  Emma 
(Douthitt)  Douthitt  have  had  children:  i.  Henry  Alexander,  bom  October 
21,  1903.  2.  Clifford  Taylor,  born  January  17,  1906.  3.  Richard  Kane, 
bom  September  23,  1909. 

(The  Kane  Line.) 

(I)  James  Kane  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  early  manhood.  He  located  at  Marietta,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter,  or  "nailer"  as  it  was  called  in 
Ireland.  His  death  occurred  in  1821.  He  married  Jane  Getty,  also  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  also  young  when  she  came  to  this  city,  residing  at  Marietta, 
and  they  had  children:  i.  John,  see  forward.  2.  Sarah,  married  Thomas 
Morgan,  and  after  the  death  of  her  husband  she  returned  to  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  made  her  home  with  her  mother.    3.  James,  employed  on 


BEAVER   COUNTY  695 

the  Ohio,  was  considered  one  of  the  strongest  men  on  the  river;  he  was  very 
tall  of  stature,  and  it  is  said  of  him  that  he  picked  up  a  refractory  mule  and 
carried  it  on  the  boat;  after  the  death  of  James  Kane,  his  widow  married 
(second)  James  McCartney,  also  of  the  Presbyterian  denomination;  he  died 
in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  widow  removed  with  her  family 
to  Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  she  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years ;  by  her  second  marriage  she  had  a  son,  Washington 
McCartney,  a  farmer  in  New  Brighton;  Mrs.  McCartney  was  very  strict 
in  conforming  to  religious  services,  and  her  children  were  obliged  to  conform 
to  her  ideas. 

(II)  John  Kane,  son  of  James  and  Jane  (Getty)  Kane,  was  born  in 
Marietta,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  9,  1814,  died  March  24, 
1901.  He  was  but  seven  years  of  age  when  his  father  died,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  the  family  removed  to  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  From  his 
tenth  to  his  fourteenth  year  he  was  bound  out  to  a  Mr.  Hood  to  learn  the 
tanner's  trade.  He  then  became  manager  of  the  farm  of  John  White, 
while  his  mother  assisted  in  the  management  of  the  house  at  the  same  place, 
which  was  near  Clinton,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  she  met  Mr.  McCartney, 
whom  she  later  married.  In  February,  1841,  they  removed  to  Darlington 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  order  to  take  charge  there  of  a 
tract  of  land  owned  by  Squire  White,  and  they  were  very  successful  in  this 
undertaking.  During  one  period  they  kept,  raised  and  fed  one  thousand 
head  of  sheep  for  several  years.  All  the  male  members  of  the  Kane  family 
were  more  than  ordinarily  large  and  strong  men.  Mr.  Kane  was  a  very 
uncompromising  Democrat  in  politics,  and  served  as  a  school  director.  Being 
frugal  and  industrious,  he  succeeded  in  amassing  a  sufficient  capital  to 
enable  him  to  buy  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  this  being  a  part  of  the  White 
farm,  and  on  this  he  lived  until  his  death. 

He  married  Sarah  Brown  Mahon,  born  near  the  town  of  Clinton,  Alle- 
gheny county,  Pennsylvania,  July  16,  1817,  died  April  i,  1870,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Brown)  Mahon,  the  former  born  in  Allegheny  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  a  farmer  near  Qinton,  the  latter  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. They  were  strict  Presbyterians.  They  had  children:  i.  Josiah,  a 
teacher.  2.  John,  a  farmer  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Sarah  Brown, 
mentioned  above.  4.  Nancy,  married  T.  B.  Stewart;  lived  in  Pittsburgh. 
5.  William,  a  farmer  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  6.  Elizabeth,  died 
unmarried.  There  is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants  a  brush,  which 
was  used  by  Isaac  Mahon,  a  great-uncle  of  Mrs.  Kane,  during  the  American 
Revolution,  to  brush  his  clothes  while  in  service  in  the  Continental  army. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kane  had  children:  i.  Mary,  deceased;  married  Henry  Douth- 
ift  (see  Douthitt  II).  2.  Margaret,  deceased;  married  John  C.  Dilworth. 
3.  James,  deceased;  lived  in  Wilkinsburg,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Eliza,  unmar- 
ried ;  lives  on  the  homestead ;  she  acquired  a  fine  education,  mainly  by  her 
own  unaided  efforts,  taught  school  for  a  number  of  years,  and  is  recognized 
az  one  of  the  best  informed  women  of  that  section  of  the  country.    5.  John 


696  PENNSYLVANIA 

M.,  the  leading  spirit  in  the  management  of  the  homestead  farm.  6.  Frank, 
employed  in  the  Penn  Bridge  Works;  lives  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania. 
7.  William  B.,  a  miller;  Hves  in  Chester,  Illinois.  8.  Ella,  married  (first) 
Dr.  James  Sanger,  (second)  a  Mr.  Fowler.  9.  Harry,  a  farmer;  lives  on  the 
family  homestead.  10.  Ida,  unmarried;  lives  on  the  homestead.  11.  Dwight, 
lives  on  the  homestead,  takes  an  active  part  in  local  politics,  and  has  served 
as  school  director  and  as  secretary  of  the  board  of  township  supervisors. 


The  name  of  Moore  is  one  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Penn- 
MOORE     sylvania  and  other  parts  of  the    United    States.     Both    in 

America  and  abroad,  many  of  this  name  have  attained  distinc- 
tion. The  family  under  consideration  in  this  sketch  is  probably  of  the 
Scotch-Irish  stock  so  important  an  element  in  the  settlement  of  this  state. 
Jefferson  county,  Pennsylvania,  was  largely  settled  by  the  Moores,  and  many 
of  them  also  settled  in  the  state  of  Ohio. 

(I)  Robert  Moore  was  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  South  Beaver 
township,  where  he  became  an  extensive  land  owner,  and  where  his  death 
occurred.  He  married,  and  had  children;  George,  Robert,  David,  Joseph, 
of  further  mention;  and  several  daughters. 

(II)  Joseph  Moore,  son  of  Robert  Moore,  was  an  old  resident  of  South 
Beaver  township,  where  he  was  a  farmer  and  land  owner.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  Jane  Warrick  and 
they  had  children:  Margaret,  married  J.  W.  Rhodes,  and  lives  in  Beaver 
Falls,  Pennsylvania;  Nannie,  married  W.  J.  McMillen,  and  lives  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio ;  Alexander  W.,  of  further  mention ;  Mary,  married  Robert  Dales, 
and  died  in  Ohio. 

(III)  Alexander  W.  Moore,  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane  (Warrick)  Moore, 
was  born  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1849.  He  there  grew  to 
maturity  and  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  After  his  marriage  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Chippewa  township,  settling  on  a  place  of  one  hundred 
acres.  Later  he  sold  this  and  retired  to  Patterson  Heights,  where  he  is  now 
living.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political  matters,  and  has  been  honored  with 
practically  all  the  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  township.  He  is  a  Presbyterian 
in  his  religious  affiliations,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Moore  married  Matilda 
Veon,  born  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1855.  They  have  had  children:  Florence,  married  Scott  Moore  and  lives 
in  Riverview,  Pennsylvania ;  Chalmers  B.,  of  further  mention ;  John,  a  mer- 
chant, who  lives  in  Patterson  Heights;  James  W.,  a  fireman,  who  lives  in 
Beaver  Falls;  Belle,  died  young;  Lilly,  married  Elmer  May,  lives  in  Falls- 
ton;  Jesse,  at  home;  Edith,  a  student  at  the  Missionary  School  in  Nyack, 
New  York ;  Nannie,  married  Arthur  Wall,  and  lives  in  New  Brighton. 

Matilda  (Veon)  Moore  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Christy) 
Veon,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Henry  Veon,  of  German  descent.  He  owned 
a  farm  in  Darlington  township,  where  he  died.    He  married  and  had  chil- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  697 

dren :  John,  of  further  mention ;  Henry ;  Scott ;  Dessie,  married  James  Cal- 
hoon;  Eliza,  married  Smith  Miller;  Maria,  married  Alexander  Miller; 
Nancy,  married  Samuel  Gibson ;  Amanda,  married  James  McClymonds ; 
Matilda,  married  William  Calhoon. 

John,  son  of  Henry  Veon,  was  born  in  Darlington  township  about  1816, 
and  there  grew  to  maturity.  He  was  a  farmer  and  owned  considerable  land 
in  Darlington  township.  He  was  prominent  in  local  political  affairs  as  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  widow,  Eliza  (Christy)  Veon,  of  Washing- 
ton county,  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four  years.  They  had  children : 
Robert,  deceased ;  Walter,  who  lives  on  the  homestead ;  Henry,  a  farmer  of 
Darlington  township;  Albert,  the  owner  of  a  farm  near  the  homestead; 
Frank,  a  farmer  in  Darlington  township;  Nan,  married  Joshua  Newell,  and 
lives  in  Darlington  township ;  Matilda,  married  Alexander  W.  Moore,  afore- 
mentioned; Eliza,  married  John  Mellon,  and  lives  in  Signet,  Ohio;  Belle, 
married  John  Collins,  and  died  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania ;  Jessie, 
married  Jesse  Moore,  and  lives  in  Darlington  township ;  Mamie,  died  young ; 
Clara  and  Melinda,  deceased. 

(IV)  Dr.  Chalmers  B.  Moore,  son  of  Alexander  W.  and  Matilda 
(Veon)  Moore,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  4, 
1879.  His  elementary  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  a  course  at  Peirsol's  Acad- 
emy, after  which  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  period  of  four  years. 
He  then  studied  at  Beaver  College  and  at  Geneva  College,  at  Beaver  Falls, 
and  finally  matriculated  at  the  University  of  Pittsburgh,  from  the  medical 
department  of  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1910,  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  being  conferred  upon  him.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  he  established  himself  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Holt, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  removing  at  the  end  of  one  year  to  New 
Galilee,  Beaver  county,  where  he  is  rapidly  gaining  a  lucrative  and  extensive 
practice.  He  has  the  happy  faculty  of  gaining  the  affection  as  well  as  the 
confidence  of  his  patients,  and  he  has  won  the  esteem  of  his  colleagues  by 
his  conscientious  labors.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Beaver  County  Medical 
Society.  His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Republican  party,  and  his 
religious  connection  is  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Dr.  Moore  married, 
in  1910,  Belle,  born  in  Beaver  Falls,  a  daughter  of  J.  S.  Donaldson.  They 
have  had  children:  Chalmers  Donaldson,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Louisa 
May  Blanche. 


The  name  of  Jeffreys  is  of  Welsh  origin,  and  is  to  be 
JEFFREYS     found  in  a  variety  of  forms — Geoffrey,  GeofTries,  Jeffries, 
etc.    The  form  at  the  head  of  this  review  is  met  with  fre- 
quently. 

(I)  John  Jeffreys  was  born  in  Wales,  where  his  entire  life  was  spent. 
His  death  occurred  in  1878  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.     He  married 


698  PENNSYLVANIA 

Emma,  also  born  in  Wales,  daughter  of  Robert  Harry.  They  had  children : 
Susannah,  Ann,  Emma,  John,  Ellen,  deceased;  Robert,  married  Jane  Jones, 
and  had  thirteen  children,  all  now  living;  an  unnamed  daughter,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Richard,  of  Aliquippa,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  Lettes,  de- 
ceased; George,  see  forward;  two  daughters,  who  died  unnamed  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Jeffreys  died  in  1880  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

(II)  George  Jeffreys,  son  of  John  and  Emma  (Harry)  Jeffreys,  was 
born  in  Wales,  October  21,  1841.  He  received  his  education  in  his  native 
country,  where  he  was  later  engaged  in  farming.  Coming  to  America  in 
1870,  he  lived  for  a  time  in  Pittsburgh,  where  he  was  in  business  as  a  con- 
tractor. During  the  first  five  years  after  his  marriage  he  was  successfully 
engaged  as  a  dairy  farmer,  and  later  became  a  hotel  proprietor.  Removing 
to  Homestead,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1880,  he  built  five  houses 
there  and  established  himself  in  the  grocery  business,  and  later  the  ice  busi- 
ness. In  1892  he  removed  to  Aliquippa,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
there  built  the  Central  Hotel,  of  which  he  was  the  proprietor  and  manager 
until  1903,  when  he  retired  to  private  life  in  Aliquippa  Park,  there  owning  a. 
beautiful  home.  In  1905  he  removed  to  Beaver,  Beaver  county,  and  erected 
a  fine  residence  on  Wilson  avenue,  which  he  is  occupying  at  the  present 
time.  Mr.  Jeffreys  built  seven  houses  and  a  hotel  in  Aliquippa,  and  four 
houses  and  storerooms  in  Midland,  Pennsylvania.  He  has  shown  himself 
to  be  a  financier  of  remarkable  ability  and  was  the  leading  spirit  in  some  of 
the  most  important  financial  enterprises  of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  is  now  a  stockholder  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Aliquippa ; 
he  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  now  a  director  of  the  Aliquippa  National 
Bank;  is  one  of  the  directors  and  a  stockholder  of  the  National  Bank  of 
Midland;  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  National  Bank  of  Monaca, 
Pennsylvania;  is  a  stockholder  of  the  Woodlawn  Trust  Company.  Mr. 
Jeffreys  is  a  Republican  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  first  council  of 
Aliquippa.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Holy  Name  Society. 

Mr.  Jeffreys  married,  November  i,  1873,  Sarah,  born  in  Ireland,  1851, 
daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Gavin)  Holland,  the  former  of  whom  died 
in  1906,  the  latter  in  1904.  They  had  other  children:  William,  Elizabeth, 
Catherine,  John,  James.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeffreys  had  children :  i.  John  How- 
ard, see  forward.  2.  Emma,  married  D.  C.  Campbell,  of  Syracuse,  New 
York,  who  is  now  in  the  employ  of  the  steel  works  in  Beaver,  Beaver  county ; 
they  have  children:  Sarah,  Ella  and  George  Henry  Francis.  3.  George 
Francis,  of  Jamestown,  New  York;  married  Ella  FoUand,  of  Monaca,  Penn- 
sylvania, now  deceased,  and  they  had  one  child,  Dorothy.  4.  William  Ray- 
mond, manager  of  the  Jeffreys  Amusement  House  at  Midland,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

(III)  John  Howard  Jeffreys,  son  of  George  and  Sarah  (Holland) 
Jeffreys,  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  South  Side,  Pennsylvania,  August  i,  1875. 
His  early  life  was  spent  in  this  locality,  and  his  education  was  obtained  in 


BEAVER   COUNTY  699 

the  public  schools  of  Homestead,  being  completed  with  his  graduation  from 
the  high  school  of  that  place.  In  April,  1892,  he  came  to  Aliquippa,  Penn- 
sylvania, entering  the  contracting  business  with  his  father,  both  abandoning 
contracting  to  manage  the  Central  Hotel,  which  George  Jeffreys  had  erected 
in  1892.  From  that  time  until  1903  he  was  his  father's  assistant  in  attending 
to  the  many  details  of  the  business,  in  the  latter  year  becoming  sole  pro- 
prietor, as  he  has  since  continued.  His  management  of  the  hotel  has  been 
along  the  strictest  business  lines,  and  under  his  careful  supervision  the  house 
has  prospered.  His  only  other  business  interest  in  Aliquippa  is  as  director 
of  the  Aliquippa  National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers. 
His  political  action  is  in  accord  with  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
his  first  presidential  vote  having  formed  part  of  the  plurality  of  William 
McKinley  in  the  election  of  1897.  Mr.  Jeffreys  has  always  evinced  a  deep 
interest  in  borough  affairs,  and  has  served  as  member  of  the  council,  and 
aside  from  official  matters  has  always  stood  ready  to  forward  any  movement 
for  the  public  good.  His  faith  is  the  Catholic,  his  wife  and  son  being  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  fraternizes  with  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  belonging  to  Rochester  Lodge,  No.  283,  and  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  Coraopolis  Lodge,  No.  1133. 

Mr.  Jeffreys  married,  December  10,  1902,  Celia  Marion,  daughter  of 
D.  R.  Porter,  of  Beaver  Falls,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  John  Howard 
and  Celia  Marion  (Porter)  Jeffreys  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  Howard 
Porter,  born  November  4,  1903. 


The  Riedel  family,  now  represented  jn  New  Brighton,  Beaver 
RIEDEL  county,  Pennsylvania,  has  been  well  known  in  Germany  for 
many  hundred  years.  In  the  year  1600  they  adopted  the 
Protestant  faith,  and  thereby  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  King  of  Ger- 
many. Matters  became  very  unpleasant  for  them  in  consequence  of  this 
proceeding,  and  the  family  left  Saxony  in  1618,  and  took  up  their  residence 
in  Austria,  returning  to  Saxony  in  1648.  One  of  the  earliest  ancestors  was 
a  head  forester,  who  received  his  appointment  from  the  king. 

(II)  Karl  Riedel,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  Saxony  where  he 
was  an  extensive  land  owner.  He  inherited  the  "Right  of  the  Court,"  that 
is,  he  acted  as  a  local  justice  to  decide  questions  of  inheritance,  etc.  He 
married  Hannah  Gottlief,  also  bom  in  Saxony. 

(III)  Karl  Gottholdt  Riedel,  son  of  Karl  and  Hannah  (Gottlief)  Riedel, 
was  born  in  Saxony.  He  learned  the  jeweler's  trade,  and  was  well  estab- 
lished in  that  business.  He  married  Christiana  Schwartzenberg,  a  native 
of  Saxony. 

(IV)  Karl  Gottholdt  (2)  Riedel,  son  of  Karl  Gottholdt  (i)  and  Chris- 
tiana (Schwartzenberg)  Riedel,  was  born  in  Saxony.  He  also  followed  the 
jewelry  business.  He  married  Wilhelmina  an  der  Stanel,  who  was  born  in 
Saxony.  Her  father,  Gottholdt  an  der  Stanel,  took  an  active  part  in  the 
Napoleonic  wars,  and  lived  to  be  more  than  one  hundred  years  of  age. 


700  PENNSYLVANIA 

(V)  Gustav  Herman  Riedel,  son  of  Karl  Gottholdt  (2)  and  Wilhelmina 
(an  der  Stand)  Riedel,  was  born  in  Saxony,  January  7,  1866.  After  the 
customary  elementary  education  he  was  sent  to  a  technical  school  at  Mid- 
waida,  where  he  specialized  in  chemistry  and  metallurgy,  and  was  graduated 
in  1886.  He  then  spent  two  years  in  study  along  the  same  lines  in  Leipsic, 
and  a  further  six  months  in  metallurgy  at  Aue.  He  was  then  appointed  to 
the  position  of  assistant  superintendent  at  Chemnitz,  and  six  months  later 
was  advanced  to  the  position  of  superintendent.  July  4,  1892,  saw  him  on 
his  way  to  New  York,  as  an  electrical  chemist,  from  whence  he  went  to 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  after  a  time  to  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  held  an  important  position  in  the  Westinghouse  plant.  He  removed  to 
New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  8,  1892,  and  there 
established  himself  as  a  manufacturer  of  enameled  figures,  letters  and  signs, 
locating  his  plant  below  the  old  city  mill.  He  conducted  this  enterprise  alone 
for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  later  admitting  his  sons  to  the  business, 
when  it  became  known  as  G.  H.  Riedel  &  Sons.  They  erected  buildings  on 
Marion  Hill,  New  Brighton,  and  also  have  a  fine  residence  on  the  same  piece 
of  property.  The  family  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Riedel  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Mr.  Riedel  married  Caroline  Bertha  Hofifman,  and  they  have  children: 
Gustav,  Herman,  Erich,  Charles,  Curtis,  George,  Roy,  Spencer. 


The  name  Chatley  is  another  of  the  many  Beaver  county 
CHATLEY     surnames  that  trace  their  origin  to  Scotland,  whence,  for 

religious  reasons,  the  family  came  to  Ireland,  in  which 
country  Francis  Chatley,  grandfather  of  William  Sherman  Chatley,  of 
further  mention  in  this  record,  was  born. 

(I)  The  birthplace  of  Francis  Chatley  was  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  island,  where  his  parents,  Seceders  in  religion,  had  settled.  He  married 
in  that  country,  his  wife  being  a  native  of  his  birthplace,  and  soon  after- 
ward emigrated,  in  1797  making  their  home  in  Darlington  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  descendants  of  the  name  have  ever 
since  resided,  some  on  a  part  of  the  homestead  of  four  hundred  acres  that 
Francis  Chatley  bought  upon  his  arrival.  The  holder  of  the  land  at  the 
time  of  the  purchase  by  Grandfather  Chatley  was  the  government,  and  it 
was  through  dealings  with  that  august  body  that  he  became  possessor  of 
the  property.  Finding  after  some  time  that  the  task  of  cultivating  such 
an  extensive  area  was  rather  more  than  stood  within  the  capabilities  of 
one  man,  he  disposed  of  three-fourths  of  it,  retaining  title  to  only  one 
hundred  acres,  on  which  he  erected  a  capacious,  comfortable  farmhouse, 
and  barns  of  exceptional  size  for  that  time,  since  hewed  logs  were  about 
the  only  building  material  available.  In  this  country  the  family  affiliated 
with  the  Disciples  of  Christ,  their  church,  the  Seceders,  not  being  repre- 
sented in  that  locality.  He  died  on  his  farm  in  Darlington  township,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1849,  aged  seventy-six  years,  his  wife's  death  occurring  April  4, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  701 

1852,  aged  seventy-two  years.  He  married  Rebecca  Speer,  and  by  this 
marriage  was  the  father  of:  i.  Samuel,  a  farmer  of  Mercer  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; married  Catherine  Carr.  2.  Andrew,  also  a  farmer  of  Mercer 
county,  Pennsylvania;  married  Rebecca  Robbins.  3.  John,  a  farmer  of 
the  same  locality ;  married  Catherine  Bowman.  4.  Martha,  married  Joseph 
McClintock;  resided  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Margaret, 
married  Sheldon  Crooks ;  lived  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  6.  Jane,  married 
William  Andrews;  their  home  was  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania.  7. 
Polly,  married  James  Steen;  lived  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania.  8.  A 
daughter,  died  in  infancy,  unnamed.  9.  Elizabeth,  married  John  Campbell, 
of  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania.     10.  Ahijah,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Ahijah  Chatley,  fourth  son  and  youngest  of  the  ten  children  of 
Francis  and  Rebecca  (Speer)  Chatley,  was  born  in  Darlington  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  7,  1822,  died  there  November  12, 
1897.  His  life-long  home  was  on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  first  saw 
the  light,  the  other  heirs  of  his  father  surrendering  their  inheritances  in 
the  farm  to  him  through  purchase.  He  was  active  in  agricultural  opera- 
tions and  prospered,  much  of  his  early  life  being  devoted  to  the  raising 
of  sheep,  a  subject  to  which  he  gave  considerable  time,  carefully  studying 
the  best  methods  in  their  care  and  reaping  a  gratifying  profit  both  from  the 
sale  of  the  wool  and  by  selling  them  to  the  local  butchers,  who  did  the 
greater  part  of  their  slaughtering  at  their  shops,  there  being  no  large 
abattoirs  near  by.  He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  Jacksonian  school,  strong 
in  his  political  convictions  and  heartily  loyal  to  the  interests  of  the  party. 
He  held  the  offices  of  school  director  and  township  supervisor.  He  was 
reared  in  the  church  of  the  Disciples  of  Christ  and  in  his  manhood  clung 
to  that  faith,  to  which  his  wife  was  also  an  adherent,  and  held  the  position 
of  elder  in  its  organization.  He  married  Ann  Fowler,  born  in  South 
Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  21,  1829,  died 
November  10,  1905,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  (Mitchell)  Fowler. 
William  Fowler  came  to  Beaver  county  from  eastern  Pennsylvania  and 
rented  farms,  first  in  South  Beaver  and  later  in  Darlington  townships. 
His  wife  was  reared  in  South  Beaver  township,  the  daughter  of  parents 
of  Irish  birth,  and  was  born  November  30,  1799.  Her  father,  Oliver 
Mitchell,  was  bom  April  29,  1762,  her  mother,  Jane  Mitchell,  in  May, 
1769.  Children  of  William  and  Nancy  (Mitchell)  Fowler:  i.  Jane,  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Overlander;  moved  to  Forest  county,  Pennsylvania.  2.  Ann, 
of  previous  mention,  married  Ahijah  Chatley.  3.  Samuel  Mitchell,  a 
corporal  of  Company  M,  Eleventh  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Cavalry,  his  company  being  commanded  by  Captain  Reynolds,  contracted 
while  in  the  service  a  disease  that  caused  his  death  soon  after  he  had  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge  at  the  close  of  the  war.  4.  William,  died 
aged  two  years,  scarlet  fever  being  the  disease  that  caused  his  death.  5. 
Isabella,  was  drowned  in  a  spring  when  but  two  years  of  age.  Children 
of  Ahijah  and  Ann  (Fowler)  Chatley:    i.  Nancy  Jane,  died  aged  seventeen 


702  PENNSYLVANIA 

years.  2.  William  Sherman,  of  whom  further.  3.  Samuel,  a  grocer  of 
Warren,  Ohio.  4.  Frank,  a  partner  in  business  with  his  brother  Samuel 
in  Warren,  Ohio;  married  June  McDermott.  5.  Perry,  married  Laura 
Young;  lives  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  6.  Mitchell,  a  minister 
of  the  church  of  the  Disciples  of  Christ;  married  Pearl  Grove;  lives  at 
Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where  his  church  is  located. 

(Ill)  William  Sherman  Chatley,  second  child  and  eldest  son  of  the  six 
children  of  Ahijah  and  Ann  (Fowler)  Chatley,  was  born  in  Darlington 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives 
and  which  was  the  birthplace  of  his  father,  November  28,  1861.  When  a 
youth  he  attended  the  Douthitt  district  school,  situated  near  the  home  farm, 
and  was  his  father's  assistant  on  the  farm  until  his  death,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  homestead,  a  place  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres,  and  there 
resides  at  the  present  time.  His  land,  farmed  by  three  generations  of  his 
family,  is  rich  and  fertile,  and  yields  abundantly  to  the  skillful  care  of  the 
experienced  agriculturist,  words  well  applied  to  IVTr.  Chatley,  who  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  that  business  and  is  a  practical  farmer  of  a  modern  type. 
The  Democratic  party  holds  his  allegiance  in  all  political  issues,  and  his 
support  of  that  organization  is  as  enthusiastic  as  that  which  characterized 
the  political  action  of  his  father.  In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  to 
which  church  his  wife  also  belongs. 

Mr.  Chatley  married,  June  16,  1909,  Martha  Anderson,  born  in 
Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Alexander 
and  Rebecca  (Reed)  Anderson.  Alexander  Anderson  was  born  in  Hope- 
well township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  22,  1833,  died  April 
8,  1898,  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Patton)  Anderson,  the  former  probably 
a  native  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  a  native  of  Ireland.  In 
1858  Alexander  Anderson  bought  what  is  now  the  Ira  Duncan  farm  in 
Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  and  there  lived  until  his  death.  For  a 
time  he  conducted  general  farming  operations,  in  his  later  years  engaging 
in  the  dairy  business  with  good  success.  For  many  years  he  was  an  elder 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  both  he  and  his  wife  belonged.  His 
wife,  Rebecca,  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Thompson) 
Reed,  Samuel  being  a  farmer  of  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, both  of  Irish  descent,  she  born  in  Ireland.  Children  of  Alexander 
and  Rebecca  (Reed)  Anderson:  i.  William  T.,  married  Jane  McElwee; 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Beaver  county,  near  Enon,  Pennsylvania.  2.  Jane, 
married  W.  S.  Cook;  lives  in  Beaver  Falls.  3.  Maud,  died  aged  two 
months.  4.  Madge  (Margaret),  married  Joseph  Biggerstaff;  lives  in  New- 
castle, Pennsylvania.  5.  Martha,  married  William  Sherman  Chatley,  both 
of  previous  mention.  6.  Laura,  died  in  1890,  aged  fifteen  years.  7.  Frank, 
purchasing  agent  in  the  employ  of  a  steel  mill  at  Sharon,  Pennsylvania; 
married  Mabel  Beggs ;  their  residence  is  in  Sharon. 


/f'-Z^/^  ^>^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  703 

Thomas  S.  Hoyt,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Koppel,  Beaver  county, 
HOYT  Pennsylvania,  is  of  half  New  England,  half  old  Pennsylvania 
ancestry,  and  was  born  at  Rochester  in  that  state,  a  son  of 
Thomas  Morgan  and  Margaret  (Gordon)  Hoyt.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  Thomas  Hoyt,  a  farmer  and  large  landowner  of  Saco,  Maine, 
where  he  was  born,  lived  and  died,  and  where  he  left  a  family  of  four 
children,  of  whom  Thomas  Morgan,  of  whom  further,  was  the  youngest. 

(H)  Thomas  Morgan  Hoyt  was  born  in  Maine  and  appears  to  have 
been  a  delicate  boy  as  we  learn  of  his  going  to  sea  for  his  health  and  re- 
maining for  four  or  five  years.  Somewhere  about  1832  or  the  year  fol- 
lowing, he  came  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  met  and  was 
married  to  Margaret  Gordon,  a  daughter  of  an  old  Beaver  county  family. 
Here  Mr.  Hoyt  found  employment  as  a  steward  on  the  Ohio  river 
steamers,  and  worked  at  this  for  thirty-three  years  before  retiring.  He 
was  a  strong  Democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  death  occurred  in  1890  and  hers 
in  1900.  To  them  were  born  eleven  children,  as  follows :  Lydia,  now  Mrs. 
Moses  Debee,  of  East  Liverpool,  Ohio;  Nancy,  now  Mrs.  Jack  Brown,  of 
Monaca,  Pennsylvania;  Minerva,  deceased;  Rachel,  deceased;  Katherine, 
now  Mrs.  Harry  Streit,  of  Rochester,  Pennsylvania;  Maggie,  now  Mrs. 
B.  Lazarus,  of  Rochester,  Pennsylvania;  Jeannette,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  B. 
Price,  of  Rochester,  Pennsylvania;  Henry,  died  in  infancy;  Clinton,  died 
in  infancy;  George  B.,  a  resident  of  Rochester,  Pennsylvania,  and  an 
employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad ;  Thomas  S.,  of  whom  further. 

(HI)  Thomas  S.  Hoyt  was  educated  in  the  local  schools,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  glass  cutting,  finding  employment  in  this  industry  in  both 
West  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania.  In  191Z  he  removed  to  Koppel,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  bought  the  hotel  there.  This  is  a  good  sized 
building  three  stories  in  height  and  containing  thirteen  sleeping  rooms,  and 
measuring  one  hundred  by  twenty-five  feet.  Its  construction  is  of  brick. 
Here  Mr.  Hoyt  has  been  located  since  1912  and  here  he  is  doing  a  thriving 
business.  Mr.  Hoyt  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  the  affairs  of  the  community.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  of  the  American  Mechanics, 
and  of  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles. 

Mr.  Hoyt  married,  December  13,  1887,  Kate  C.  Franklin,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Rachel  (Frank)  Franklin.  Mr.  Franklin  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  came  when  young  to  Rochester,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
married  Rachel  Frank,  a  native  of  Monaca,  Pennsylvania;  he  engaged  in 
the  business  of  making  cigars  for  many  years.  His  wife  died  in  1866, 
and  five  years  later  Mr.  Frank  disappeared  and  was  never  heard  from.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoyt  have  been  born  six  children,  George  Morgan,  born 
July  1,  1888;  Hazel  May,  born  June  4,  1890,  died  September  9,  1897; 
James  Alexander,  bom  May  10,  1892,  died  in  infancy;  Jeannette  Price, 
born  February  22,  1894;  Josephine  Franklin,  born  June  22,  1896;  Blanche 
Minerva,  born  July  19,  1898. 


704  PENNSYLVANIA 

The  Mitchells  of  Pennsylvania  descend  from  many  sources 
MITCHELL    and    are    found    at    early    dates    in    Chester,    Lancaster, 

Cumberland  and  Montgomery  counties.  They  are  of 
Scotch-Irish  and  English  descent,  and  all  through  the  years  in  Pennsylvania 
have  produced  leading  men  in  law,  medicine,  politics,  business  and  agri- 
culture. The  direct  antecedents  of  the  branch  under  review  here  cannot 
be  traced  in  an  uninterrupted  line  as  some  of  the  early  records  have  been 
destroyed. 

(I)  Robert  Mitchell,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,   came  to  America 

either  shortly  before  or  shortly  after  his  marriage  to  Susan  .     He 

located  on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  Rochester, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  his  death  occurred.  This  land  was 
only  partly  cleared  when  he  took  possession  of  it,  and  he  did  a  great  deal 
to  leave  it  in  an  improved  condition.  He  had  children:  David,  see 
forward;  Hugh,  Robert,  John,  Elizabeth,  Peggy. 

(II)  David  Mitchell,  son  of  Robert  and  Susan  Mitchell,  was  born  on 
the  Mitchell  homestead  in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March 
4,  1801,  died  in  1876.  All  his  life  he  was  engaged  in  general  farming,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  father  purchased  a  portion  of  the  homestead  farm 
from  the  other  heirs,  so  that  he  was  the  owner  of  about  one  hundred 
acres.  He  sold  a  large  portion  of  this  land  for  building  lots,  factories, 
etc.  He  married,  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Jane  Davidson,  bom  in 
1803,  in  Delaware,  while  her  parents  were  on  their  way  to  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  died  about  1881.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Her  parents,  James  and  Ann  Davidson,  were  natives  of  Belfast, 
Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  America  after  the  Revolution,  settling  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  farmer,  owning  one  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  Rochester  township,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  War  of  1812.  They 
had  children:  William,  John,  Alexander,  Nancy,  Jane,  who  married  David 
Mitchell;  Samuel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  had  children:  Ann,  died  un- 
married; Caroline;  Mary  Jane;  Emeline;  Sabina,  died  in  infancy;  James 
R.,  married  a  Miss  Rogers,  lives  in  Ohio,  and  has  five  children ;  Charles  D., 
see  forward. 

(III)  Charles  D.  Mitchell,  son  of  David  and  Jane  (Davidson)  Mitchell, 
was  born  in  the  borough  of  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  12,  1845.  His  education  was  an  excellent  one,  being  acquired  in 
the  public  schools,  and  in  Duff's  Business  College.  He  assisted  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  and  inherited  a  large  part  of  it  which  he 
sold  in  June,  191 1,  to  William  F.  Higby,  with  whom  he  has  made  his 
home  since  the  sale  went  into  effect.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  served  in  a  number  of  township  offices.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.    Mr.  Mitchell  is  unmarried. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  705 

The  ancestors  of  the  Allison  family  of  Pennsylvania  were 
ALLISON  oj-iginally  natives  of  Scotland  who  later  made  their  homes 
in  Ireland,  in  consequence  of  which  all  of  the  name  are 
referred  to  as  being  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  While  for  ordinary  purposes 
of  identification  this  appellation  serves  well  its  purpose,  by  showing  that 
the  family  came  from  Scotland  to  Ireland,  the  truth  is  that  in  their  posterity 
the  blood  of  the  old  Scotch  forebears  runs  as  pure  as  though  it  had  never 
undergone  foreign  residence.  This  is  because  most  of  the  Scotch  families, 
though  on  terms  of  friendly  intercourse  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  land 
that  received  them,  refrained  from  contracting  marriage  alliances  except 
with  those  of  their  own  race,  and  there  were  places  in  Ireland  as  distinc- 
tively Scotch  as  any  village  in  the  highlands  of  Scotland,  a  fact  which 
was  even  true  of  America  in  the  early  days  of  colonization.  The  Allisons 
as,  after  many  changes,  the  majority  of  the  family  spell  the  name,  have 
spread  widely  over  all  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the 
land  to  the  west  the  family  is  well  represented. 

Among  the  early  residents  of  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, was  Alexander  Allison,  who  was  a  son  of  James  Allison,  who 
had  children,  as  follows:  William,  Alexander,  Samuel,  John,  James,  Jane. 
The  occupation  of  Alexander  Allison  was  that  of  farmer,  and  in  its  pur- 
suit he  spent  his  entire  life.  He  married  and  among  his  children  were 
James,  of  whom  further;  William,  a  carpenter  of  West  Virginia,  died  as 
a  result  of  injuries  sustained  in  a  fall  while  working  at  his  trade;  John, 
died  in  the  west,  whither  he  had  gone  to  make  his  home;  Alexander,  de- 
ceased, a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War;  Joseph,  a 
cooper  of  East  Liverpool,  where  he  died;  Jane,  married  a  Mr.  Hawthorne, 
and  died  in  West  Virginia ;  Mary. 

(II)  James  Allison,  son  of  Alexander  Allison,  was  born  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  April  13,  1813,  died  in  the  same  county,  December 
26,  1857.  He  attended  the  local  schools,  and  was  his  father's  farm  as- 
sistant until  he  attained  his  majority.  He  moved  to  Hanover  township 
and  purchased  land  near  Harshaville,  which  he  only  cultivated  for  a  short 
time  before  he  abandoned  agricultural  pursuits  and  became  operator  of 
McCausland's  Mill  on  Kings  Creek.  While  engaged  in  this  business,  milling 
being  a  trade  he  had  learned  in  his  youth,  he  met  with  an  accident  that 
proved  fatal,  bringing  his  life  to  an  untimely  close  at  the  age  of  forty- 
four  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  with  his  wife  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  was  at  one  time 
a  trustee. 

He  married  (first)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel  Miller.  Samuel 
Miller  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Continental  army  in  the  war  for  inde^ 
pendence.  He  married  (second)  June  26,  1849,  Margaret  Nickle,  bom 
June  12,  1826,  died  in  May,  1887.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mar- 
garet (Nickle)  Allison  married,  in  1865,  William  Chapman,  and  became  the 
mother  of  one  son,  William,  born  August  16,  1867,  a  farmer  of  Greene 


7fj6  PENNSYLVANIA 

township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  married  Ella  Andrews.  Margaret 
Nickle  was  the  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Murray)  Nickle,  both  natives 
of  Scotland,  where  they  were  married.  They  left  the  land  of  their  birth 
in  1823  and  came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Hanover  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Farming  was  the  occupation  he  had  fol- 
lowed in  Scotland,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  Hanover  township  he  invested 
part  of  his  scanty  resources  in  a  farm,  now  the  property  of  the  heirs 
of  J.  H.  Nickle.  He  lived  in  a  simple  and  frugal  manner,  working  with 
busy  industry  upon  his  farm,  with  gratifying  success.  With  the  returns 
from  his  agricultural  operations  he  invested  in  more  land  in  that  locality, 
and  at  his  death  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  men  of  the  neighborhood, 
owning  many  of  the  surrounding  farms,  the  result  of  self-denial  and 
energetic  labor.  Both  were  members  of  the  United  Pi-esbyterian  Church, 
he  belonging  to  the  session  of  that  organization.  Mrs.  Nickle  died  about 
1859,  surviving  her  husband  by  many  years.  David  and  Mary  (Murray) 
Nickle  were  the  parents  of:  i.  James,  a  farmer  of  Hanover  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died.  2.  George,  died  in  the  west. 
3.  William,  moved  to  the  west  and  there  died.  4.  Eliza,  died  young.  5. 
David,  a  farmer,  died  in  Hanover  township.  6.  Matthew,  a  farmer  of 
Greene  township,  there  died.  7.  Alexander,  a  farmer,  died  in  Hanover 
township.  8.  Margaret,  of  previous  mention,  married  James  Allison. 
Children  of  James  and  Margaret  (Nickle)  Allison:  i.  Elizabeth  J.,  bom 
May  13,  1850,  died  September  30,  1853.  2.  Mary,  born  November  2,  1851, 
died  September  23,  1853.  3.  James  Miller,  of  whom  further.  4.  Margaret 
Agnes,  born  July  24,  1856,  married  Thomas  Cameron;  lives  in  Kendall, 
Pennsylvania. 

(HI)  James  Miller  Allison,  only  son  and  third  child  of  James  and 
Margaret  (Nickle)  Allison,  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  June  26,  1854.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  and  under  the  capable  instruction  of  the  masters  at  Frankfort  and 
Hookstown  academies.  Becoming  a  farmer,  he  was  employed  for  two 
years  on  the  farm  of  his  uncle  in  Hanover  township,  in  1878  purchasing 
a  farm  of  about  one  hundred  acres  in  the  same  township.  This  he  im- 
proved with  a  new  dwelling  and  barn,  in  1893  replacing  the  house. he  had 
first  erected  with  one  even  more  substantial  and  commodious.  He  does 
not  specialize  in  any  one  department  of  agriculture,  but  conducts  general 
operations  upon  his  large  and  fertile  tract.  Although  his  political  prefer- 
ences incline  toward  the  Democratic  party,  most  of  his  political  action  is 
taken  without  regard  to  party  or  faction,  and  he  has  several  times  been 
the  choice  of  his  neighbors  for  local  office.  With  his  wife  he  belongs 
to  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

He  married,  October  19,  1875,  Nancy  Jane  Kevan,  born  in  Hanover 
township,  August  3,  1846,  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (McHenry) 
Kevan.  William  Kevan  was  born  at  Barledzied,  parish  of  Sarty,  Scotland, 
October  16,  1791.    He  married  (first)  in  his  native  country,  June  21,  1821, 


BEAVER   COUNTY  707 

ceremony  performed  by  the  Rev.  John  Smith,  of  Whithorn,  Margaret 
Murray.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  the  United  States,  making  his  home 
in  New  York  City,  moving  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1831.  His 
wife  died  July  25,  1840.  He  married  (second)  October  zi,  1841,  Mar- 
garet McHenry,  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  who  died  April  30,  1849.  He 
was  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Beaver  county, 
which  he  cleared  in  part  and  erected  thereon  suitable  buildings.  He  was  a 
Seceder  in  his  native  country,  and  when  he  came  to  Beaver  county  joined 
Dr.  McElwee's  church  at  King's  Creek.  At  his  death  he  was  a  ruling 
elder  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  at  Tomlinson's  Run.  Children 
of  William  and  Margaret  (Murray)  Kevan:  i.  Peter,  born  at  Whithorn, 
Scotland,  November  17,  1822,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March 

4,  1905.  2.  Elizabeth,  born  in  New  York,  July  18,  1824,  died  on  the  day 
of  her  birth.  3.  Agnes,  born  May  24,  1826.  4.  James,  born  May  18,  1828, 
died  October  27,  1912,  at  his  home  in  California.     5.  William,  born  May 

5,  1830,  died  July  24,  1910;  lived  on  the  old  homestead.  6.  Andrew,  born 
in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  a  resident  of  Iowa.  7.  Mary,  born  April 
I3>  1835,  died  August  29,  191 1;  married  James  Miller.  8.  John,  bom 
March  18,  1838;  a  shoemaker  by  trade;  lives  retired  at  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania. 9.  Samuel,  born  October  21,  1839;  lived  at  Hookstown,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  died  December  18,  19 13,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  John  Swearengen.  Children  of  William  and  Margaret  (McHenry) 
Kevan:  10.  Carlisle,  born  September  17,  1842;  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  War  and  died  in  that  service.  11.  Margaret  Ann, 
born  December  24,  1844,  died  February  20,  1872;  married  John  Nickle. 
12.  Nancy  Jane,  of  previous  mention,  married  James  Miller  Allison.  13. 
Alexander,  born  April  8,  1848-49,  died  August  20,  1848-49.  Children  of 
James  Miller  and  Nancy  Jane  (Kevan)  Allison:  i.  A  son,  died  unnamed 
in  1876.  2.  Edith,  born  November  9,  1878;  married  Moore  Craig,  lives 
in  Lawrenceville,  West  Virgina;  children:  Gertrude,  Edna,  Zelma,  Viva. 
3.  A  son  died  in  infancy,  unnamed. 


Tracing  three  generations  of  this  branch  of  the  Jones  family 

JONES     leads  to  residence  in  three  states,  West  Virginia,  Ohio  and 

Pennsylvania,  the  first  settlement  in  the  latter  state  being  made 

at  East  McKeesport  by  Thomas  Jefiferson  Jones,  now  a  prosperous  dairy 

farmer  of  Brighton  township,  Beaver  county. 

(I)  Louis  Jones  was  a  large  wool  grower,  farmer  and  land  owner  of 
Pleasants  county,  West  Virginia.  He  was  a  pillar  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  a  man  of  influence  in  his  community.  After  a  second  marriage  he 
moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  died.  He  left  sons:  Daniel,  Simpson, 
Greenberry,  Hiram. 

(H)  Hiram  Jones,  son  of  Louis  Jones,  was  born  in  Pleasants  county. 
West  Virginia,  there  grew  to  manhood,  married  and  resided  until  1883. 
In  March  of  that  year  he  moved  to  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged 


7o8  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  farming,  an  occupation  he  had  followed  in  West  Virginia  in  connection 
with  lumbering  and  river  rafting  of  logs  down  the  Ohio  to  Louisville. 
In  Ohio  he  first  worked  a  rented  farm,  prospered,  later  buying  a  farm  at 
Long  Bottom,  which  he  cultivated  until  his  death.  His  life  was  one  of  toil, 
but  he  gave  fully  of  his  time  to  the  public  service,  was  a  captain  of 
militia  and  aided  in  raising  troops  during  the  war  between  the  states, 
his  sympathies  being  with  the  Union.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  rearing  his 
large  family  in  the  same  faith.  He  married  Ann  Eliza  Cox,  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, but  taken  when  a  child  to  West  Virginia  by  her  parents  and  was 
there  married.  Children:  R.  E.,  now  living  in  California;  Amos  C,  now 
living  in  Nebraska;  Sarah,  deceased;  Ann  Eliza,  deceased;  Albert,  died 
young;  Margaret  A.,  died  young;  Grace  S.,  married  (first)  Harvey  Cald- 
well, (second)  Fred  Macumber;  Thomas  Jeflferson,  of  whom  further; 
John  Robert,  now  living  in  Racine,  Ohio;  Hiram  Millard,  now  living  in 
Missouri;  Ella,  married  Henry  Bartels,  and  resides  in  Syracuse,  Ohio; 
Clinton  B.,  now  residing  in  the  town  of  Crawford,  Nebraska,  neighboring 
his  brother,  Amos  C.  Jones ;  a  son  died  unnamed. 

(Ill)  Thomas  Jeflferson  Jones,  eighth  child  of  Hiram  and  Ann  Eliza 
(Cox)  Jones,  was  born  in  Pleasants  county.  West  Virginia,  October  lo, 
1865.  He  began  attending  public  school  at  his  native  town,  continuing 
his  studies  in  Ohio  schools,  after  his  parents  moved  to  Meigs  county, 
that  state.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  home  farm  and  has  since  been 
devoted  to  agriculture  in  its  varied  forms.  After  leaving  home  he  worked 
a  rented  farm  in  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  moving  later  to  East  McKeesport, 
Pennsylvania,  where  for  a  time  he  conducted  a  dairy.  He  later  sold  this 
business  and  established  a  meat  market,  but  did  not  long  continue  its 
operation.  He  next  purchased  a  farm  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  near 
Shakeleyville,  but  in  less  than  a  year  sold  out,  and  in  December,  1909, 
bought  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  six  acres  in  Brighton  town- 
ship, Beaver  county.  This  property  he  has  developed  as  a  dairying  enter- 
prise, maintaining  a  herd  of  from  ten  to  fifteen  cows,  whose  product  is 
marketed  in  New  Brighton  and  Fallston.  He  has  prospered  in  all  his 
undertakings  and  gained  the  respect  of  his  neighbors  in  the  different  com- 
munities in  which  his  lot  has  been  cast.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and 
serves  as  school  director  of  Brighton  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  com- 
municants of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Mr.  Jones  married,  December  3,  1893,  Rosetta  Gillilan,  born  in  Meigs 
county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Alanson  Gillilan.  Children:  i.  Rosa  Vernice, 
married  R.  C.  McKee;  resides  at  College  Hill  near  Beaver  Falls;  they 
have  one  child,  Jefferson  Glenn..  2.  Paul  A.,  died  aged  nine  months.  3. 
Hiram  A.,  residing  at  home.  4.  Lubert  Forris,  residing  at  home.  5,  A 
daughter  died  unnamed.  6.  A  son  died  unnamed.  7.  Jefferson  Morgan. 
Mr.  Jones'  post  office  address  is  Beaver,  Pennsylvania,  his  farm  being 
on  one  of  the  rural  delivery  routes  radiating  from  that  place. 


qT 


^^ 


BEAVER   COUNTY  709 

The  name  of  Jones  is  of  Welsh  origin,  being  in  the  posses- 
JONES  sive  case,  so  to  speak,  and  is  derived  from  the  Christian  name 
John.  The  Welsh  distinguished  themselves  one  from  another 
by  employing  the  Welsh  preposition  "ap"  which,  literally  rendered,  means 
"the  son  of,"  and  if  a  Welshman  named  John  had  a  son  named  Thomas,  the 
son  was  called,  for  distinction,  "Thomas  ap  John,"  or,  Thomas,  the  son  of 
John.  Later  an  "s"  was  added,  also  an  "e"  inserted,  for  the  sake  of 
euphony,  and  the  "h"  dropped — Johns,  Johnes,  Jones.  The  great  warrior 
and  crusader.  Sir  Hugh  Johnys,  or  Jones,  derived  his  name  in  this  way. 

(I)  Jones  was  a  native  of  Wales  and  emigrated  to  the  United 

States  with  his  wife.  He  was  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river  before  the  birth 
of  his  child.  His  wife,  who  was  a  Miss  McKee,  died  at  McKees  Rocks, 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  shortly  after  the  birth  of  her  child,  James. 

(H)  James  Jones,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  at  McKees  Rocks, 
Pennsylvania,  November  28,  1812.  Thus  early  orphaned,  he  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  became  a  coal  boat  pilot.  He 
fell  heir  to  a  farm  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  where 
Woodlawn  is  now  located,  this  having  come  to  him  from  his  great-grand- 
father, James  McKee,  who  emigrated  to  America  in  1834,  lived  at  South 
Side,  Pittsburgh,  then  went  to  Evansville,  Indiana,  where  he  and  his  wife 
died.  Mr.  Jones,  upon  the  acquisition  of  this  farm,  became  engaged  in  its 
cultivation,  with  which  he  was  occupied  until  his  death  in  1887.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Baird,  born  in  Germany,  November  28,  1822,  died  in  1892 
on  her  husband's  farm.  They  had  children:  Margaret,  born  May  12, 
1841,  married  D.  A.  McDonald,  died  March  20,  1866;  Maria,  born  Jan- 
uary 21,  1843,  died  June  4,  1857;  John  B.,  born  September  17,  1845,  '^^^'^ 
April  25,  1880;  James  T.,  born  February  19,  1849,  died  December  18, 
1899;  Alexander  McKee,  see  forward;  Thomas  M.,  born  April  15,  1857, 
died  June  27,  1904;  Thaddeus  F.,  see  forward;  Charles  Albert,  born 
November  27,  1862,  died  December  24,  1865 ;  Ulysses  Grant,  born  March  3, 
1865,  died  April  25,  191 1. 

(IH)  Thaddeus  F.  Jones,  son  of  James  and  Hannah  (Baird)  Jones, 
was  born  in  Logstown,  now  Aliquippa  and  Woodlawn,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  January  24,  i860.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
district  and  his  early  years  were  passed  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  com- 
menced his  business  career  as  a  pilot  on  the  river,  and  was  thus  occupied 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  then  became  ferryman,  and  also  rented  pleasure 
boats  to  the  people  in  general,  and  amassed  a  considerable  fortune.  He  and 
his  brothers  sold  the  homestead  farm  to  the  Jones  &  Laughlin  Steel  Com- 
pany in  1907,  and  since  that  time  Mr.  Jones  has  lived  retired  from  business 
aflfairs.  He  had  a  fine  residence  erected  at  Allegheny  avenue  and  Sixth 
street,  in  which  he  is  living  at  the  present  time.  He  is  a  staunch  supporter 
of  Republican  principles,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.    His  fraternal  connections  are  with  the  following  organizations: 


710  PENNSYLVANIA 

Woodlawn  Lodge,  No.  1221,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of 
Aliquippa;  Lodge  No.  1708,  Improved  Order  of  Eagles,  of  Aliquippa; 
Russell  Lodge,  No.  1065,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Wood- 
lawn. 

Mr.  Jones  married,  September  18,  1885,  Henrietta  Swagger,  of  Wood- 
lawn,  and  they  have  had  children:  Fannie  L.,  married  Samuel  Peckard, 
chief  electrician  of  the  Lake  Erie  Railroad ;  Hannah,  married  John  Mackey, 
of  McKees  Rocks,  has  a  daughter,  Madeline;  Alma,  married  Milton  Boyd, 
has  a  child,  Alexander  Donald;  Thomas  James,  married  Lillian  Carney, 
of  Sharon,  Pennsylvania,  and  now  lives  in  Youngstown,  Ohio ;  John  McKee, 
a  member  of  the  class  of  1914  of  the  Aliquippa  high  school;  Edgar,  study- 
ing as  a  machinist  and  electrician  at  the  McKees  Rocks  shops ;  Elmo  Judson, 
died  in  infancy;  Edith  Angeline,  attends  school  at  Aliquippa. 


(Ill)  Alexander  McKee  Jones,  third  son  and  fifth  child 
JONES  of  James  and  Hannah  (Baird)  Jones,  was  born  at  Logs- 
town,  now  Woodlawn,  Pennsylvania,  March  17,  1854,  died 
in  Aliquippa,  Pennsylvania,  April  9,  1913.  He  was  reared  on 
the  homestead  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  beginning 
early  in  life  to  prepare  for  his  life  work,  farming.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  he  managed  the  paternal  estate,  having  received  as 
his  share  the  house  and  thirty  acres  of  the  surrounding  land,  cultivating  the 
same  until  a  favorable  opportunity  to  sell  the  property  presented  itself, 
when  he  disposed  of  his  possessions  and  moved  to  Aliquippa,  Pennsylvania, 
where  his  death  occurred.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  his  allegiance 
to  this  party  always  being  offered  as  a  member  of  the  rank  and  file,  never 
as  a  public  servant,  and  he  worshipped  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  his  wife  being 
a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Jones  married,  October  22,  1884,  Blanche,  born  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania,  March  23,  1857,  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Sarah  (Haz- 
lett)  Tindle.  Alexander  Tindle's  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  American 
army  in  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  met  his  death  in  one  of 
the  battles  of  that  struggle,  his  wife,  Olivia  (Mears)  Tindle,  dying  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  Alexander  Tindle  was  born  in  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  and  for  many  years  was  a  trunk  maker  and  saddler  of  Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania,  in  which  city  he  died,  his  wife,  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  dying  in  the  same  city.  Alexander  Tindle,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  was  the  oldest  mason,  in  point  of  age,  in  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania,  having  taken  the  thirty-second  degree  in  that  order  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Pittsburgh  Dollar 
Savings  Bank,  and  his  name  was  the  first  placed  upon  the  depositors'  books 
of  the  Pittsburgh  Bank  for  Savings,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and 
Smithfield  street.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  Hazlett,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  this  country  in  young  manhood,  marrying  Mary 
Hasson,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  spent  her  early  life  in  Lancaster 


A^mn  ^  i^nn  (yiia4on 


BEAVER    COUNTY  7" 

county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Pittsburgh,  where  his  death  also  oc- 
curred. Children  of  Alexander  and  Sarah  (Hazlett)  Tindle:  Olivia,  de- 
ceased; Albert,  deceased;  George  D. ;  Alexander;  Allen;  Blanche,  of  pre- 
vious mention,  married  Alexander  McKee  Jones ;  Herbert.  Since  the  death 
of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Jones  has  lived  at  No.  446  East  End  avenue,  Beaver, 
Pennsylvania,  although  she  still  holds  title  to  the  home  in  Aliquippa. 


It  is  believed  that  George  Mason,  the  first  of  the  line  herein 
MASON     recorded  of  whom  definite  information  is  obtainable,  was  a 

descendant  of  the  New  England  family  of  Mason,  an  itinerant 
member  of  the  family  having  come  from  New  England  to  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  Revolutionary  times.  George  Mason  was  a  farmer,  pros- 
pered in  his  calling,  and  was  a  large  landowner  in  the  county,  his  home 
being  in  Industry  township.  He  married  and  had  several  children,  among 
whom  was  John,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  John  Mason,  son  of  George  Mason,  was  born  in  Industry  town- 
ship, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died.  He  was  heir  to  a 
portion  of  his  father's  estate  and  thereon  conducted  farming  operations 
until  his  death.  The  family  faith  was  the  Episcopal,  and  his  political  sup- 
port was  tendered  the  Republican  party.  He  married  Ann  Hoyt,  a  native 
of  Industry  township,  where  her  death  occurred.  Children  of  John  and 
Ann  (Hoyt)  Mason:  i.  George,  died  aged  twenty- three  years.  2.  Thomas, 
a  farmer  in  Ohio  township.  3.  Mary,  married  Robert  Lutton;  died  in 
Fulton  county,  Ohio.  4.  Reno,  of  whom  further.  5.  Martin,  a  farmer  of 
Fulton  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died.  6.  John,  a  farmer,  died  retired  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri.  7.  Sarah  Ann,  married  Ira  Neville ;  died  in  Fulton  county, 
Ohio.  8.  Milo,  an  oil  operator;  died  in  Ohio  township.  9.  Samuel,  lived 
and  died  in  Industry. 

(III)  Reno  Mason,  son  of  John  and  Ann  (Hoyt)  Mason,  was  born  in 
Industry  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  4,  1826,  died 
in  Ohio  township,  same  county,  March  3,  1906.  His  youthful  years  were 
spent  in  the  township  of  his  birth,  and  when  he  attained  his  majority  he 
there  rented  a  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until  he  moved  to  Ohio  township, 
where  his  death  occurred.  Like  his  father  he  adhered  to  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  like  him  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  holding  the  office  of 
supervisor.  He  married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rosanna  Lutton. 
Both  of  her  parents  were  from  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  early 
settlers  in  Industry  township  where  he  was  a  farmer  and  the  possessor 
of  considerable  land.  Among  their  large  family,  all  of  whom  are  deceased, 
were:  George,  Robert,  Jane,  Christina,  Nancy,  of  previous  mention,  mar- 
ried Reno  Mason,  Milo,  Matthew,  Garrett.  Children  of  Reno  and  Nancy 
(Lutton)  Mason:  i.  Ann  Eliza,  married  John  McGaffick;  resides  at  East 
Liverpool,  Ohio;  children:  Charles,  Annie,  Harry,  Edna,  Myrtle,  Roy. 
2.  William  Adderly,  a  farmer  of  Illinois ;  married  Arabella  Shipley ;  three 
children:     Electa,  Carrie,  Oliver.     3.  John  Anderson  Fremont,  a  resident 


712  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  Fairview,  Pennsylvania;  married  Mary  Dawson;  she  died  and  left  one 
child,  Florence.  4.  Isaac  Newton,  an  insurance  agent  of  Beaver  Falls; 
married  Nannie  Capron;  no  issue.  5.  Harvey  Reno,  of  whom  further.  6. 
Nancy  Jane,  unmarried,  lives  with  her  brother,  Harvey  Reno.  7.  Mary 
Alice,  married  John  Barclay,  deceased;  lives  in  Ohio  township;  has  seven 
children:  Charles,  Nellie,  Ida,  Edith,  Fern,  Mary,  John.  8.  Abraham 
Lincoln,  a  farmer  of  Ohio  township.  9.  Ida  Lucretia,  unmarried,  lives  with 
her  brother,  Harvey  Reno. 

(IV)  Harvey  Reno  Mason,  fourth  son  and  fifth  child  of  Reno  and 
Nancy  (Lutton)  Mason,  was  born  in  Industry  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  15,  1858.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  In- 
dustry township,  spending  the  early  life  on  the  home  farm,  later  engaging  in 
farming  occupations  independently,  on  rented  ground.  In  1884  he  rented 
the  old  Dawson  farm,  near  Fairview,  and  although  he  has  become  the 
possessor  of  land,  still  makes  his  home  in  that  place.  In  1904  he  purchased 
the  Thomas  Moore  farm,  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  later 
disposing  of  one-half  of  it,  retaining  possession  of  eighty  acres.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  political  belief,  belongs  to  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and 
for  sixteen  years  was  treasurer  of  the  "Creamery  Association,  of  Ohio 
Township."  He  embraces  the  family  faith,  the  Episcopal,  and  is  a  regular 
attendant  of  its  services.  Although  never  active  in  public  life,  Mr.  Mason 
is  public-spirited  in  his  support  of  all  plans  for  local  improvement,  and  is 
highly  regarded  in  his  community  for  his  upright  and  honorable  attributes. 


The  Rawls  of  America  came  to  this  country  from  England,  and 
RAWL  members  of  this  family  are  to  be  met  with  throughout  the 
Union. 
(I)  James  Rawl  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  died  in 
1872.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  in  active  service  during  the  Civil  War.  His 
religious  affiliations  were  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  Eliza 
McCurdy,  bom  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  now  living  in  West  Bridge- 
water,  Pennsylvania.  They  had  children:  Matilda,  married  Frank  Mans- 
field, a  machinist,  and  lives  in  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county;  Harry  Mc- 
Curdy, of  further  mention;  Jane,  died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  After  the 
death  of  her  first  husband,  Mrs.  Rawl  married  William  Tindell,  a  farmer, 
and  they  lived  in  Raccoon  township.  By  this  marriage  she  had  children : 
James  H.,  killed  in  an  accident  at  Conway,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  yards,  and  whose  wife  was  Rosanna  (Fuller)  Rawl;  Fannie, 
married  William  Ritz,  a  tailor,  and  lives  in  West  Bridgewater,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Lina,  also  married,  and  also  lives  in  West  Bridgewater.  Eliza  (Mc- 
Curdy-Rawl)  Tindell,  who  was  born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county, 

Pennsylvania,  in  July,  1842,  was  the  daughter  of and  Hannah  (Wigley) 

McCurdy,  the  former  born  in  Ireland,  and  the  latter  in  England,  ^e  came 
to  the  United  States  with  her  parents  when  she  was  twelve  years  of  age. 
The  Wigleys  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Beaver  county,  and  were 


BEAVER   COUNTY  713 

Presbyterians.  He  died  in  middle  age,  and  she  married  (second)  Abraham 
Vaughn,  who  died  in  1890  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine  years.  They  lived  on  a 
farm  in  Raccoon  township,  where  she  died  in  1893  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years.  and  Hannah  (Wigley)  McCurdy  had  children:  Eliza- 
beth, married  David  Pence,  and  lived  in  Raccoon  township;  John,  lived  in 
Monaca,  Pennsylvania;  Mary,  married  Richard  Dean,  and  lived  in  Sewickley, 
Pennsylvania;  Eliza,  married  James  Rawl,  as  above  mentioned;  Cynthia, 

married  Applegirth,  and  lives  in  Kansas.     By  her  second  marriage 

Hannah  (Wigley-McCurdy)  Vaughn  had  children:    Louisa,  widow  of 

Baker,  and  lives  in  West  Bridgewater,  Pennsylvania;  Olive,  married  John 
Galleher,  and  lives  in  West  Bridgewater ;  Philip,  a  farmer  and  oil  operator, 
lives  in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio. 

(II)  Harry  McCurdy  Rawl,  son  of  James  and  Eliza  (McCurdy)  Rawl, 
was  born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  just  across 
the  river  from  Industry,  Pennsylvania,  February  7,  1867.  He  was  but  five 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  his  father,  and  he  was  sent  to  live 
with  H.  E.  and  S.  W.  Douglas,  who  resided  in  New  Sewickley  township, 
Beaver  county,  on  a  farm,  and  there  he  made  his  home  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  was  educated  in  the  Knob  District  School.  He  then  came 
to  New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  with  the  Bentley  &  Gerwig 
Machine  Works  for  four  years,  obtaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
machinist's  trade,  and  attending  night  school  during  the  evenings.  He  was 
then  employed  as  follows  for  some  years:  The  C.  C.  and  E.  P.  Townsend 
Company  for  six  months;  the  Keystone  Driller  Company  of  Beaver  Falls 
for  eighteen  months ;  the  Carnegie  Steel  Company  of  Beaver  Falls  for  four 
years;  then  machinist  for  the  Pierce-Crouch  Gas  Engine  Company,  of 
New  Brighton.  For  this  last  named  firm  he  did  installation  work  all  over 
the  United  States,  and  finally  filled  the  position  of  foreman  of  their  plant 
for  a  period  of  four  years.  August  29,  1906,  Mr.  Rawl,  in  association  with 
J.  M.  Vandervort,  and  T.  J.  Cartney,  established  the  Valley  Machine  Com- 
pany, which  is  among  the  representative  industries  of  Beaver  Falls.  It  is 
located  on  First  avenue,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  streets,  at  which  place 
the  company  occupies  a  large,  modern  brick  building,  equipped  with  the 
most  up-to-date  machinery.  Twelve  able  and  experienced  assistants  are 
employed  in  the  various  departments.  The  products  manufactured  and 
repaired  are:  Automobiles,  gas  and  gasoline  engines,  a  general  line  of 
supplies  such  as  ignition  tubes,  batteries,  hangers,  belts  and  oil,  and 
automobile  accessories.  The  company  does  a  large  jobbing  business, 
and  the  territory  they  cover  is  an  extensive  one,  embracing  principally 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  West  Virginia.  Mr.  Rawl  is  a  Republican  in 
political  matters,  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  common  council  of  New 
Brighton,  Pennsylvania,  four  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  God  at  New  Brighton,  and  his  fraternal  connections  are  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Workmen  of  the  World,  at  Beaver  Falls. 

Mr.  Rawl  married,  April  14,  1893,  Lena  C,  born  in  New  Brighton, 


714  PENNSYLVANIA 

August  14,  1871,  daughter  of  Casimir  and  Lena  Helble,  both  of  whom 
came  to  this  country  from  Germany,  and  settled  at  New  Brighton,  where 
he  followed  the  stone  mason's  trade.  Mr.  and  Mts.  Rawl  have  children: 
Raymond  L.,  born  April  9,  1895,  a  student  at  the  high  school;  Margaret, 
born  June  18,  1900,  also  attending  school. 


The  McBride  family  has  been  represented  in  the  state  of 
McBRIDE     Pennsylvania  for  many  generations,  and  a  number  of  mem- 
bers of  it  have  been  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  state. 

(I)  Andrew  McBride,  the  first  of  whom  we  have  definite  record,  was 

a  farmer  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania.    He  married  Neva ,  of  Butler 

county,  and  had  children :  Dennis  J.,  see  forward ;  John,  Edward  and  James, 
deceased ;  Andrew ;  Sarah,  unmarried,  lives  with  her  brother  Andrew ; 
Mary,  married  William  Magee;  Susan. 

(II)  Dennis  J.  McBride,  son  of  Andrew  McBride,  was  born  in 
Butler  county  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  representative  of  a  Philadelphia 
company,  and  had  charge  of  the  gas  pipe  lines  east  of  Pittsburgh.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  gave  his  political  support  to 
the  Democratic  party.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Stoddard  and  Mary 
McDonald,  and  a  sister  of  John,  Elmer,  Susanna  and  Alford  (twins), 
Nancy  J.,  Margaret  and  Rebecca.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McBride  had  children: 
Charles  F.,  see  forward;  Blanche,  unmarried  and  lives  with  an  aunt  at 
Wilkinsburg,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Bride are  no  longer  living. 

(HI)  Charles  F.  McBride,  son  of  Dennis  J.  and  Mary  (McDonald) 
McBride,  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  29,  1886. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Pittsburgh,  and  was  graduated 
from  DufT's  Business  College  in  the  class  of  1901.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  his  business  career,  accepting  a  position  with  the  National  Tube 
Company  of  Pittsburgh,  in  the  traffic  department.  He  resigned  from  this 
at  the  expiration  of  two  and  one-half  years  in  order  to  accept  a  more 
advantageous  one  with  the  Gulf  Refining  Company,  but  at  the  end  of 
five  months  formed  a  connection  with  the  Rock  Island  lines.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  traveling  freight  agent  for  the  Rock  Island  Railroad 
Company.  He  married,  in  1907,  Cora  L.  Taylor,  born  in  Beaver,  Penn- 
sylvania, daughter  of  Avin  M.  and  Josephine  (Landis)  Taylor,  and  they 
lived  in  Beaver  for  a  period  of  four  years.    They  have  no  children. 


The   Paulson   family,   of   New   Brighton,   Beaver   county, 
PAULSON     Pennsylvania,  has  been  resident  there   for  a  number  of 
generations,    and    in    every    generation    they    have    proved 
their  worth  as  good  citizens  and  as  valuable  members  of  society. 

(I)  Henry  Paulson  was  a  machinist  by  trade.    He  married  Julia  Ann 
Alexander,  born  in   New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 

(II)  Joseph  Fillmore  Paulson,  son  of  Henry  and  Julia  Ann   (Alex- 


BEAVER   COUNTY  715 

ander)  Paulson,  was  born  in  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
May  21,  1867.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New  Brighton, 
and  at  an  early  age  learned  the  trade  of  brick  laying,  with  which  he  has 
been  identified  since  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Mr.  Paulson  married,  December  8,  1887,  Gertrude  Drusilla  Funkhouser, 
whose  ancestral  history  follows  this  sketch.  They  have  had  children: 
Alma  Gertrude,  Carrie  Marie,  Lila  Catherine,  Ruth  May,  Lois  Christine, 
Joseph  Osman,  Dorothy  Eleanor,  Cromwell  Truby,  Virginia  Elizabeth,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eight  months. 

(The  Funkhouser  Line.) 

(I)  Samuel  Funkhouser  was  born  in  North  Sewickley  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  entire  life  was  spent  in  New  Brighton. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  a  man  of  great  physical  strength.  He 
was  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  He  married  Caroline,  born 
in  what  is  now  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of  John  Osmon, 
who  was  an  English  sea  captain,  and  became  a  farmer  at  Beaver  Falls, 
about  1780  or  1790.  Children:  Jacob  Osmon,  of  further  mention;  James 
Madison,  who  served  in  the  Civil  War;  George  Dallas,  served  in  the 
Civil  War;  Charles  B.,  who  also  served  in  the  Civil  War. 

(H)  Jacob  Osmon  Funkhouser,  son  of  Samuel  and  Caroline  (Osmon) 
Funkhouser,  was  born  in  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  10,  1839.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  his  father,  and  worked  with  the  latter  until  the  Civil  War.  He 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Regiment  Pensnylvania 
Volunteers.  Upon  the  conclusion  of  this  struggle  Mr.  Funkhouser  estab- 
lished himself  in  his  trade  independently,  and  when  he  retired  from  this 
calling,  he  became  toll  taker  at  the  bridge  between  New  Brighton  and 
Beaver  Falls.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  com- 
munity as  an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party,  and  served  as  high  con- 
stable and  tax  collector  of  the  borough.  He  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  local  post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  also  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  Mr.  Funkhouser  married  (first)  Margaret  Hays,  (second)  Cath- 
■erine  UflFerman,  of  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania.  Children  by  first  mar- 
riage: Dallas,  Caroline,  and  an  infant  who  died  young.  Children  by 
second  marriage:  Gertrude  Drusilla,  who  married  Mr.  Paulson  (see  Paul- 
son II) ;  Samuel  Henry,  Virginia  May,  Harvey  Allen. 


This  name  is  found  in  England,  Ireland  and  Scotland.    It 

HINEMAN     also  occurs  in  Germany,  but  there  it  is  spelled  Hinmann. 

Another  form  of  the  name  is  Inman.    It  is  not  of  record 

-where  the  earliest  bearers  of  the  name  in  this  country  came  from,  but  it  is 

certain  that  they  were  in  Pennsylvania  during  the  very  early  colonial  days. 

(I)    John  Hineman,  at  an  early  day,  settled  in  the  southern  part  of 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  a  farmer,  and  owned  a  con- 


7i6  PENNSYLVANIA 

siderable  tract  of  land.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Venango  county, 
Pennsylvania,  purchased  a  farm  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  that 
county.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1875.  Children:  David,  deceased; 
John  McConnell,  of  further  mention;  Philip,  deceased;  Alexander,  a  resi- 
dent of  West  Virginia;  James,  lives  in  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania; 
Susan,  now  deceased,  married  Daniel  Howell;  Agnes,  married  Jerry  Mc- 
Clellan,  resides  in  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania;  Elizabeth,  deceased. 

(H)  John  McConnell  Hineman,  son  of  John  Hineman,  was  born  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1825,  died  December  25,  1901.  After 
his  marriage  he  settled  in  Independence  township,  Beaver  county,  then 
removed  to  Venango  county,  and  there  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres.  He  sold  this  in  1865  and  removed  to  Brighton  township,  Beaver 
county,  where  he  bought  two  farms,  of  about  there  hundred  acres  all  told, 
and  there  his  death  occurred.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  interests 
of  the  Democratic  party,  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  among  them  being 
those  of  school  director  and  supervisor.  He  lived  in  Bridgewater  for  a 
few  years,  and  while  there  was  elected  a  burgess  of  the  town.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  at  one  time  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Hartford, 
bom  April  19,  1828,  died  February  28,  1910.  They  had  children:  Mary, 
now  deceased,  married  D.  A.  Collins ;  Margaret,  married  Homer  Stevenson ; 
Mary  Agnes,  died  in  infancy;  John  Oliver,  died  at  Monaca;  Cordelia,  mar- 
ried W.  J.  Newingham,  and  died  at  Los  Angeles,  California;  James  Madi- 
son, of  further  mention;  Susan,  deceased,  married  B.  F.  Carothers,  and 
lived  in  Brighton  township;  Matilda,  married  Weston  Hum,  and  lives  in 
New  Brighton;  Charles,  lives  in  New  Brighton;  Belle,  married  George  W. 
Johnson,  and  lives  in  Ohio  township;  Annie,  married  C.  H.  McCready, 
and  lives  in  Bartlesville,  Oklahoma  Territory. 

James  Hartford,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Hineman,  and  his  brother- 
in-law,  Thomas  Anderson,  were  the  very  first  settlers  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania.  James  Hartford  probably  came  from  Ireland,  and  he  and 
Thomas  Anderson  married  sisters  by  the  name  of  Armor.  They  settled 
in  what  is  now  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  before  the  present 
division  of  the  counties  had  gone  into  effect.  This  was  prior  to  the  defeat 
of  Braddock,  and  they  were  driven  away  from  their  home  by  the  French 
and  Indians.  Three  years  later,  when  the  Indians  were  not  so  frequently 
to  be  met  with  in  that  locality,  they  returned,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  there.  The  log  house  in  which  they  lived  was  considered  the 
finest  and  best  in  the  entire  community.  Mr.  Hartford  was  small  of 
stature.  His  son,  John  Hartford,  father  of  Mrs.  Hineman,  was  born  in 
Hanover  township,  about  a  half  mile  from  the  Washington  county  line, 
not  far  from  Frankfort.  He  inherited  one  hundred  acres  of  land  as  his 
share  of  the  paternal  estate,  and  this  was  the  eastern  portion  of  the  farm. 
On  this  he  erected  a  number  of  comfortable  buildings  and  made  numerous 


BEAVER    COUNTY  717 

other  improvements.  While  on  a  visit  to  the  old  home  of  his  father  one 
day,  he  suddenly  dropped  dead.  He  had  been  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
prosperous  farmers  of  the  section.  He  married  Margaret  Elder,  who 
survived  him  many  years,  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Hine- 
man.  John  and  Margaret  (Elder)  Hartford  had  children:  Nancy,  mar- 
ried James  Alexander,  and  died  at  Coraopolis,  Pennsylvania,  when  she 
was  more  than  ninety  years  of  age;  Jane,  married  McClure  Dunlap,  and 
died  in  Butler  county ;  Eliza,  married  James  Gonzalez,  and  died  in  Hanover 
township,  Beaver  county;  Samantha,  married  James  Reagan,  and  died  in 
Michigan;  Abraham,  a  farmer,  died  in  Venango  county;  Mary  Ann,  mar- 
ried Mr.  Hineman,  as  above  mentioned;  Caroline,  married  Joseph  Gun- 
nett,  and  died  near  Springfield,  Illinois. 

(HI)  James  Madison  Hineman,  son  of  John  McConnell  and  Mary 
Ann  (Hartford)  Hineman,  was  born  in  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  28,  i860.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
township,  and  then  very  naturally  took  up  farming  on  the  homestead.  He 
managed  this  farm  very  successfully  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  then 
removed  to  Industry  township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  two  acres,  on  which  he  has  resided  since  1893.  He  has  made  many 
improvements  on  this  property,  among  them  being  the  erection  of  a  fine 
barn,  and  he  has  remodeled  and  improved  the  dwelling  house.  In  1909 
he  bought  another  farm  in  Industry  township,  this  containing  one  hundred 
and  twelve  acres,  and  now  cultivates  both.  He  has  cultivated  his  farms 
for  general  produce  for  the  greater  part  of  this  time,  but  in  recent  years 
he  has  gradually  branched  out  into  fruit  growing,  and  now  has  about 
eight  acres  planted  with  finely  bearing  young  apple  trees,  five  acres  with 
peach  trees,  and  one  acre  with  plums,  pears  and  cherries.  He  is  a  staunch 
supporter  of  Democratic  principles,  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  from 
1895  to  1900,  and  as  school  director  for  the  past  six  years. 

Mr.  Hineman  married,  December  17,  1885,  Blanche  Knight,  daughter 
of  Lewis  Knight  (see  Knight  II),  and  has  had  children:  Park,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Earl  J.,  was  graduated  from  the  Beaver  County  Commercial 
College,  and  now  assists  his  father  in  the  management  of  the  farms ;  Harry, 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Lulu  B.,  was  graduated  from  the  Slippery 
Rock  Normal  School  and  is  now  teaching;  Lois  E.,  a  student  in  the  public 
schools. 

(The  Knight  Line.) 

(I)  David  Knight  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  the  section. 
He  was  a  shrewd  business  man,  and  marketed  the  greater  part  of  his 
products  in  New  Orleans,  to  which  place  he  took  them  by  boat.  He  owned 
about  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land,  all  in  one  parcel.  He  cast 
his  vote  regularly  for  the  Democratic  candidates  but  never  desired  public 
office  for  himself.  He  married  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  George  Mason, 
also  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Beaver  county,  his  farm  there  containing 


7i8  PENNSYLVANIA 

about  six  hundred  and  forty  acres.  Elizabeth  (Mason)  Knight  was  born 
on  the  Mason  homestead  in  Industry  township,  and  after  her  marriage 
continued  living  there,  and  there  all  of  her  children  were  born.  They  were 
twelve  in  number,  among  whom  were :  Lewis,  of  further  mention ;  Almira, 
now  the  widow  of  Jasper  Hoyt,  lives  in  Industry  township;  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  Jacob  Sears,  lives  in  Ohio.  Almira,  Emanuel  and  Elizabeth  are 
the  three  now  living. 

(II)  Lewis  Knight,  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Mason)  Knight, 
was  born  in  Industry  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in 
the  same  township,  in  December,  1896.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  but 
later  abandoned  this  in  favor  of  farming.  After  his  marriage  he  purchased 
a  homestead  of  one  hundred  acres,  to  which  he  later  added  five  acres.  On 
this  addition  he  erected  a  commodious  residence  in  which  his  son  now 
lives.  He  married  Elizabeth  (Faucet)  Gardner,  who  was  born  in  Ireland, 
died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  September,  1903.  She  was  very 
young  when  she  was  deprived  by  death  of  both  of  her  parents,  and  was 
sent  to  an  aunt  to  be  cared  for.  Here,  however,  she  was  treated  very 
badly,  and  she  found  a  way  out  of  her  difficulties  by  running  away  and 
joining  a  party  who  were  coming  to  America.  Upon  her  arrival  here  she 
went  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  after  a  time  she  married 
(first)  Jeremiah  Gardner,  by  whom  she  had  children:  Vfirginia  and  Jerry, 
both  now  deceased.  By  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Lewis  Knight  there  were 
children:  David,  of  further  mention,  and  Blanche,  who  married  James 
Madison  Hineman  (see  Hineman  III). 

(III)  David  (2)  Knight,  son  of  Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Faucet-Gardner) 
Knight,  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives  in  Industry  town- 
ship, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  5,  1857. 


The  surname  of  Patterson  or  Paterson  simply  means 
PATTERSON     the  son  of   Patrick,  and  belongs  to  a  large  class  of 

surnames  similarly  formed.  Many  of  the  name  are  to 
be  found  in  Scotland,  in  Stirlingshire,  Aberdeenshire  and  Dumfriesshire, 
where  the  spelling  is  generally  Paterson;  in  Ireland  this  surname  is  very 
numerous  in  the  counties  of  Antrim,  Down,  Armagh,  Londonderry  and 
Tyrone,  where  the  spelling  is  usually  Patterson.  The  coat-of-arms  of  the 
Bishop  of  Ross,  a  member  of  the  Paterson  family  is :  Argent  three  pelicans 
feeding  their  young  or  in  nests  vert  on  a  chief  azure  as  many  mullets  of  the 
field.  The  other  Patterson  arms  vary  but  slightly  from  this  or  are  similiar 
to  it. 

(I)  James  Patterson,  the  first  of  the  branch  here  under  discussion  of 
whom  we  have  definite  record,  was  bom  in  county  Armagh,  Ireland,  in 
1779,  died  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1862.  He  settled  in 
Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  181 5,  having  probably  come  to  America 
in  that  year.  He  bought  two  hundred  acres  of  land  from  the  government 
in  Big  Beaver  township,  paying  at  the  rate  of  six  dollars  an  acre.     In 


BEAVER   COUNTY  719 

addition  to  farming  he  did  a  great  deal  of  contract  work,  and  constructed 
several  miles  of  the  old  Beaver  Valley  Canal.  He  and  his  family  were 
Covenanters.  In  stature  he  was  very  tall  and  erect,  and  he  was  the  only 
child  of  his  parents.  Mr.  Patterson  married  twice,  his  first  wife  dying 
in  Ireland,  where  he  also  married  (second)  Jane  Bammer,  also  born  in 
county  Armagh.  Children  by  first  marriage:  William,  who  lived  in  Big 
Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania ;  George,  lived  in  Neshannock 
Falls,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania;  Sallie,  married  John  Peoples,  and 
lived  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania;  Mary.  Children  by  second  mar- 
riage: James,  a  farmer,  carpenter  and  contractor  in  Lawrence  county, 
Pennsylvania ;  John,  a  carpenter,  who  lived  in  Hickory  township,  Lawrence 
county,  Pennsylvania;  Robert,  of  further  mention;  Jane,  married  Robert 
McAnlis,  and  lived  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

(II)  Robert  Patterson,  son  of  James  and  Jane  (Bammer)  Patterson, 
was  born  in  county  Armagh,  Ireland,  February  i,  1812,  died  in  Big  Beaver 
township,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  February,  1877.  He  was 
about  three  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  parents,  and 
he  was  reared  on  the  homestead  farm.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father  he 
took  charge  of  one  hundred  acres  of  the  family  homestead  as  his  share, 
and  spent  his  life  in  its  cultivation.  He  and  his  family  were  members 
of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  was  an  active  worker 
in  church  interests.  For  many  years  he  led  the  singing  at  the  "White 
Church."  In  his  younger  days  he  was  a  member  of  the  Whig  party,  joining 
the  ranks  of  the  Republicans  when  that  party  was  organized.  He  married 
(first)  Martha  McClure,  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1821, 
died  in  1856;  he  married  (second)  Martha  Gormley,  who  died  in  1879. 
Children  by  first  marriage:  Jane,  married  A.  Beattie,  and  lived  in  Big 
Beaver  township,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania;  James  R.,  of  further 
mention;  John,  lives  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Children  of  second  marriage:  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried; 
Robert,  a  preacher  of  the  Seventh  Day  Adventist  denomination,  and  lives  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio;  William,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Anna  Mary, 
married  John  McKinney,  and  lives  on  the  original  Patterson  homestead. 

Martha  (McClure)  Patterson  was  the  daughter  of  John  McClure  Jr.* 
and  the  granddaughter  of  John  McClure  Sr.,  the  latter  born  about  1755, 
probably  in  Scotland.  He  came  to  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  between 
1785  and  1790,  and  purchased  a  large  farm  east  of  the  town  of  Lancaster, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  which  is  still  in  the  possession 
of  some  of  his  descendants.  His  children  were :  i.  John  Jr.,  a  farmer  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  became  the  father  of  Mrs.  Patterson. 
2.  William,  born  in  1795,  died  in  December,  1879;  in  1818  he  made  his 
way  on  foot  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  located  in  Big  Beaver 
township,  near  the  present  town  of  New  Galilee;  he  was  the  owner  of  a 
blacksmith's  shop  there  for  many  years,  then  bought  a  nearby  farm  of  three 


720  PENNSYLVANIA 

hundred  and  fifty-nine  acres,  on  which  his  son,  William  J.,  now  lives.  3. 
Thomas,  a  merchant  in  Lancaster.  4.  Francis,  was  a  merchant  in  Lewistown, 
Pennsylvania.  5.  Joseph,  lived  on  the  homestead  in  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. 6.  Martha,  married  Thomas  Withero,  and  moved  to  Lawrence 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  their  descendants  still  live. 

(III)  James  R.  Patterson,  son  of  Robert  and  Martha  (McClure)  Pat- 
terson, was  born  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  27,  1853.  He  attended  McAnlis  district  school  near  his  home,  and 
worked  on  the  homestead  farm  until  his  marriage.  He  then  bought  a  farm 
m  the  same  township,  lived  on  it  five  years,  then  sold  it  and  purchased  a 
farm  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  and  removed  to  that.  At 
the  end  of  three  years,  1886,  he  removed  to  Beaver  Falls,  and  there  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  lumber  business.  He,  in  association  with  some  other 
men,  organized  a  company  which  was  called  the  Co-operative  Planing 
Mill.  Mr.  Patterson  sold  his  interests  in  this  concern  at  the  expiration  of 
three  years  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  with  which  he  has  been 
identified  since  that  time.  He  is  also  a  director  and  vice-president  of  the 
Dime  Savings  and  Loan  Association  of  Beaver  Falls.  His  public  service 
is  as  follows:  Member  of  the  common  council  of  Beaver  Falls,  three  years; 
member  of  the  board  of  health,  six  years ;  constable,  three  years.  He  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
that  institution  for  a  period  of  three  years.  Mr.  Patterson  married,  October 
26,  1876,  Nannie  (Nancy)  E.  Louthan,  born  in  South  Beaver  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  19,  1856  (see  Louthan  III).  Chil- 
di  en :  Robert  M.,  a  physician  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania ;  John  Louthan, 
of  further  mention;  Bessie,  married  Thomas  Campbell,  and  lives  in  Beaver 
Falls ;  Jessie,  unmarried,  a  clerk  in  the  post  office ;  Elda,  at  home. 

(IV)  John  Louthan  Patterson,  son  of  James  R.  and  Nannie  (Nancy) 
E.  (Louthan)  Patterson,  was  bom  in  Big  Beaver  township,  Lawrence 
county,  Pennsylvania,  November  8,  1879.  He  was  a  pupil  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  Galilee  for  one  year,  after  which  the  family  removed  to 
Beaver  Falls,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  Chandley  Brothers,  plumbers, 
with  whom  he  learned  the  plumbing  trade,  and  remained  with  them  until 
1904.  In  that  year  he  established  himself  in  that  line  of  trade  at  No.  1509 
Seventh  avenue,  where  he  is  doing  a  very  successful  business.  His  work 
is  of  a  general  nature,  and  it  includes  all  kinds  of  heating.  Mr.  Patterson  is 
unmarried,  and  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

(The  Louthan  Line.) 
(I)  Moses  Louthan  and  his  parents,  all  natives  of  Scotland,  emigrated 
to  America,  and  settled  in  Virginia.  There  young  Moses  Louthan  engaged 
in  farming.  Later  he  removed  to  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  where  he  lived  to 
be  more  than  eighty  years  of  age.    He  was  a  member  of  the  Salem  Church 


BEAVER    COUNTY  721 

congregation  and  one  of  its  first  elders.     He  married  Betsey  ,  and 

they  had  children:    James,  of  further  mention;  George,  William,  Samuel, 
Henry,  Betsey. 

(II)  James  Louthan,  son  of  Moses  and  Betsey  Louthan,  was  born  in 
South  Beaver  township,  and  later  settled  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  homestead 
of  his  father.  Subsequently  he  sold  this  property  and  removed  to  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  forty-three  years.  He  married 
Anna,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Brad- 
shaw,  of  South  Beaver  township;  as  her  husband  died  when  their  children 
were  all  small,  she  deserves  the  most  credit  for  their  responsible  bringing 

up.     They  were:  Moses;  Sarah,  married Sebring;  Eliza;  Susan, 

married    ^''' '  "  McConnell ;  James,  of  further  mention. 

(III)  James  (2)  Louthan,  son  of  James  (i)  and  Anna  (Bradshaw) 
Louthan,  was  bom  near  Wooster,  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  South  Beaver  township,  whither  his 
mother  had  removed  soon  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  at  which  time 
young  James  was  six  years  of  age.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  educa- 
tion he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  at  New  Brighton, 
and  following  this  occupation  he  was  engaged  in  putting  in  the  woodwork 
in  the  first  brick  building  in  that  borough,  and  has  followed  his  trade  con- 
tinuously in  South  Beaver  township  for  forty  years.  In  addition  to  this 
activity,  he  carefully  cultivated  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  of  which  he  was 
the  owner.  After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  sold  this  farm  and  removed 
to  Darlington,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  until  1896,  then  made 
his  home  in  Beaver  Falls,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1906.  He  was  in 
political  opinion,  successively  a  Whig,  Free  Soiler  and  Republican,  and  a 
Covenanter  in  religious  belief.  Mr.  Louthan  married,  in  1838,  Nancy, 
who  died  in  June,  1879,  a  daughter  of  James  Strain,  of  Chippewa  township, 

Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.    They  had  children :  Mary  A.,  married 

Craig;  Asa,  married  Martin;  Rebecca,  married  John  R.  Rayle,  a 

grocer  of  Beaver  Falls ;  Susan  M.,  married Hartzell ;  Elizabeth  W., 

married  Cox;  Bradford;  Allie,  married  Bradshaw;  James 

S.,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Beaver  Falls,  married  May  Johnson; 
Nannie  (Nancy)  E.,  married  James  R.  Patterson  (see  Patterson  III)  ;  John. 


The  founding  of  this  branch  of  the  McCullough  family 
McCULLOUGH     in  the  United  States  is  recorded  by  the  immigration 

of  John  and  Ellen  (Neal)  McCullough,  who  came 
thither  from  Ireland,  settling  in  Philadelphia  about  1832.  They  had  been 
married  in  Ireland,  and  after  a  short  stay  in  Philadelphia  moved  westward 
to  Beaver  county,  in  which  locality  both  died.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children,  of  whom  two  were  sons,  both  serving  in  the  Tenth  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Reserves  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War,  the  names  of  John  and 
James  McCullough  appearing  upon  the  roll  of  that  regiment. 

(II)  John  (2)  McCullough,  son  of  John  (i)  and  Ellen  (Neal)  Mc- 


722  PENNSYLVANIA 

Cullough,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  September  9,  1833,  died 
in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  obtained  his  schooling  in  the  public 
institutions  of  Pittsburgh,  in  later  life  becoming  a  follower  of  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  in  which  he  continued  for  many  years.  In  1907  he  was  appointed 
tipstaff  of  the  county  court.  He  was  in  politics  a  Republican,  his  military 
service  giving  him  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  married, 
October  9,  1859,  Sarah  Jane  Caldwell,  born  in  Brighton  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  March  25,  1836-37,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Rebecca 
(Johnston)  Caldwell,  both  natives  of  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania.  The 
Caldwell  family  was  among  the  earliest  in  Beaver  county,  and  Robert  Cald- 
well, by  his  marriage  with  Rebecca  Johnston,  allied  his  line  with  that  of 
the  Deans,  that  being  the  maiden  name  of  her  mother.  Children  of  Robert 
and  Rebecca  (Johnston)  Caldwell:  Harriett,  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Sarah  Jane, 
of  previous  mention,  married  John  (2)  McCuUough;  Margaret,  William, 
Rebecca,  Robert,  Minerva,  James,  Calvin.  Children  of  John  (2)  and  Sarah 
Jane  (Caldwell)  McCullough:  Lucien  Emmett,  of  whom  further;  Elmer; 
Rebecca;  William;  Alva,  died  in  infancy;  Robert  C,  of  whom  further;  Eva; 
Belle;  Ida,  deceased;  Fred. 

(Ill)  Lucien  Emmett  McCullough,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Sarah  Jane 
(Caldwell)  McCullough,  was  born  in  Vanport,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  14,  i860.  The  public  schools  in  which  he  obtained  his  scholastic 
training  were  those  of  Vanport  and  Beaver,  his  studies  being  discontinued 
when  he  was  eleven  years  of  age  to  permit  him  to  accept  a  position  in  a 
brick-yard  in  which  his  father  was  interested.  He  was  later  employed  by 
Welch  Gloninger  and  Pendleton  Brothers,  in  1888  entering  the  service  of 
what  was  then  Welch  Gloninger  &  Company,  now  known  as  Gloninger  & 
Company,  the  plant  of  the  concern  being  located  below  Vanport.  His 
connection  with  this  firm  began  in  the  capacity  of  laborer,  but  his  exhi- 
bition of  his  knowledge  of  the  business  and  his  evident  executive  ability 
won  him  a  promotion  to  the  position  of  superintendent  after  six  years  of 
steady  rise  in  the  estimation  of  his  employers.  He  still  discharges  the 
many  duties  of  that  office  in  the  capable  and  confident  manner  that  has 
marked  his  entire  administration  of  the  position.  Besides  his  relation 
with  the  firm  of  Gloninger  &  Company,  Mr.  McCullough  holds  an  interest  in 
the  Standard  Fire  Clay  Company,  whose  plant  is  located  at  Fallston.  In 
political  afifairs  of  national  import,  Mr.  McCullough  is  in  sympathy  with  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  platform,  but  in  the  casting  of  his  ballot  in  local 
elections  he  is  guided  solely  by  the  merits  of  the  individual  candidates,  having 
served  as  school  director  of  Vanport  for  a  period  of  three  years.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Vanport. 

Mr.  McCullough  married  Mary  Waters,  a  native  of  Vanport,  Beaver 
ccunty,  Pennsylvania.  Children :  i.  Sadie,  married  George  Miller,  of  Beaver, 
Pennsylvania,  and  is  the  mother  of  one  son,  James  L.  2.  Leah,  deceased. 
3.  James,  deceased. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  723 

(III)  Robert  C.  McCullough,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Sarah  Jane  (Cald- 
well) McCullough,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  24, 
1873.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Vanport,  there  obtaining  the  greater 
part  of  his  education,  and  in  1895  entered  the  employ  of  the  United  States 
government  at  the  Davis  Island  Dam,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  after- 
ward becoming  lock  tender  at  the  same  place.  In  1904  he  was  appointed 
lock  master  at  the  Merrill  dam  below  Vanport,  and  after  filling  this  position 
for  a  number  of  years  was  elevated  to  the  responsible  office  of  superintendent 
of  the  locks  on  the  Ohio  river  between  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania,  and  as  such  still  continues  in  the  service,  his  years  of  em- 
ployment with  the  government  covering  a  period  of  eighteen  years,  which 
have  witnessed  his  steady  advance  to  his  present  position,  so  competently 
f:iled.  His  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  tlie  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  the  Masonic  order.  His  religious  convictions  are  in  accord 
with  the  beliefs  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  political  action  he  is  a 
Republican. 

Mr.  McCullough  married,  April  14,  1904,  Stella  Marie  Mengel,  of  Belle- 
vue,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  children : 
Stella  Helen,  Robert  Mengel,  Howard  Caldwell,  Martha  Marie,  Joseph 
Edward. 


There  is,  in  the  record  of  the  two  generations  of  Hummels 
HUMMEL    who  have  made  Pennsylvania  their  home,  a  story  of  energy 

and  determination  that  in  the  simple  telling  reveals  more 
courage  of  character  and  more  undismayed  perseverance  than  the  fanciful 
hero  of  fiction  dares  to  boast.  It  is  a  story,  not  of  thrilling  deeds  and  hair- 
breadth escapes  from  threatening  dangers,  but  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  with 
adversity  and  misfortune,  with  daily  bread  as  the  prize.  Its  beginning  leads 
tr  Wittenberg,  Germany,  where  John  Hummel  was  born  in  1816.  Here  his 
early  life  was  spent  and  here  he  married.  After  he  had  become  firmly  con- 
vinced of  the  greater  abundance  of  opportunity  in  the  United  States  than 
in  his  home-land,  he  came  thither  in  1850,  leaving  behind  him  his  wife  and 
family  until  he  should  be  able  to  provide  for  them  a  comfortable  home. 
This  he  was  able  to  do  two  years  later,  when  he  had  saved  a  sufficient  sum 
from  his  wages  as  butcher  and  soap  manufacturer,  occupations  he  had 
followed  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  The  reunion  after  the  two  years 
of  separation  was  a  most  happy  one,  Mr.  Hummel  meeting  his  wife  and 
three  children  as  the  boat  docked.  In  1854  he  moved  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  was  there  employed  in  Cole's  slaughter  house  for  many  years,  leaving 
Cleveland  in  1867  and  moving  to  Titusville,  Pennsylvania.  He  rented  a 
farm  and  there  resided  until  his  wife's  death,  which  occurred  in  1870, 
in  that  year  establishing  a  butcher  shop  at  Franklin,  Pennsylvania.  For  five 
years  he  continued  in  that  business  and  then  retired  from  active  participa- 
tion in  aflfairs,  spending  the  latter  years  of  his  life  with  his  son.  Casper  J., 
in  ease,  comfort  and  quiet,  his  death  occurring  in  1899.     He  was  the  pos- 


724  PENNSYLVANIA 

sessor  of  a  military  record  of  six  years  service  in  the  German  army.  From 
the  time  of  his  first  interest  in  poHtical  issues  and  questions  he  was  a  sup- 
porter of  Democratic  principles,  changing  his  allegiance  in  i88l,  at  the 
time  of  Garfield's  election,  to  the  Republican  party. 

He  married,  in  Wittenberg,  Germany,  Regina  Hipp.  Children  of  John 
and  Regina  Hummel:  i.  Margaret,  deceased;  married  Nicholas  Ikehorn. 
2.  John,  a  resident  of  Haysville,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Casper 
J.,  of  whom  further.  4.  Martin,  died  in  infancy  in  Germany.  5.  Eli,  a  con- 
tractor and  oil  well  driller;  resides  at  Titusville,  Venango  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 6.  Magdalena,  married  J.  A.  Roth,  a  barber;  lives  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania.  7.  Mary,  married  Stephen  Finch,  an  inspector  of  armor  plate 
for  battleships,  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States  government.  8.  Cyril 
Wells  worth,  a  contractor  and  oil  well  driller  of  Wyoming. 

(H)  Casper  J.  Hummel,  third  child  and  second  son  of  John  and  Regina 
(Hipp)  Hummel,  was  born  at  Wittenberg,  Germany,  June  8,  1848.  He  was 
a  child  two  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  until  he  was  eight  years  of  age  he  attended  the  public  schools.  At 
that  age  he  began  to  contribute  his  mite  toward  the  support  of  the  family 
by  buying  and  selling  slab  wood.  Two  years  later  he  obtained  a  position 
with  a  threshing  outfit  and  was  employed  therewith  for  about  five  years, 
leaving  to  enlist  in  the  Union  army.  Although  he  was  but  fifteen  years 
and  three  months  of  age,  he  nevertheless  evaded  the  questions  of  the 
recruiting  ofiicer  and  was  accepted,  possibly  because  his  appearance  was 
so  much  older  than  his  years.  His  company  was  Company  E,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighty-eighth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  during  the  eight 
months  of  his  service  he  was  engaged  in  several  skirmishes  in  the  middle 
West  and  South.  While  a  member  of  this  company  he  accidentally  broke 
his  left  arm,  but  refused  to  accept  a  furlough  to  allow  his  injury  to  mend. 

Returning  from  the  field  he  began  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  work- 
ing at  it  for  one  year,  leaving  to  become  a  sailor  on  the  Great  Lakes.  In 
three  months,  so  quickly  had  he  absorbed  the  necessary  knowledge,  he  was 
made  a  pilot  under  Captain  Thorne.  He  was  compelled  to  give  up  this  posi- 
tion in  order  to  come  to  the  assistance  of  his  father,  who  had  failed  in  busi- 
ness and  was  having  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  fresh  start.  Accordingly  he 
engaged  in  teaming  until  1868,  when  he  drove  to  Titusville,  Pennsylvania, 
and  hauled  oil  for  two  years,  the  wages  for  this  labor  being  considerably 
higher  than  those  paid  for  similar  services  in  other  sections.  In  1870  he 
married  Anna  Rickert,  and  soon  after  became  his  father-in-law's  assistant 
on  his  farm  at  Angola,  New  York,  remaining  with  him  for  a  year  and  a 
half.  His  next  occupation  was  in  Titusville,  where  he  learned  the  tool 
dresser's  trade,  and  then  became  an  oil  pumper.  In  1873  all  his  savings 
and  possessions  were  lost  in  the  panic,  and  his  position  became  decidedly 
precarious,  inasmuch  as  he  had  neither  money  nor  a  home  left.  Disap- 
pointed by  his  ill  fortune,  but  with  confidence  and  faith  in  his  own  strength 
and  a  benign  Providence,  he  accepted  the  first  available  situation  and  was 


BEAVER   COUNTY  725 

employed  in  a  Titusville  barrel  works  at  a  dollar  and  a  half  a  day.  While 
there  was  nothing  princely  about  his  position  it  was  very  acceptable  in  his 
time  of  dire  need,  but  unkind  fate  still  pursued  him  and  four  weeks  later 
his  employer  was  forced  to  shut  down  his  factory  and  Mr.  Hummel  was 
once  more  left  without  visible  means  of  support.  He  then  obtained  a  posi- 
tion with  I.  O.  Shink,  the  employer  for  whom  his  brother  worked,  and 
performed  general  duties  about  his  grocery  store  and  at  his  oil  wells.  For 
a  year  he  held  this  position,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  devoted  his  entire 
time  to  the  management  of  the  oil  wells,  with  an  attendant  large  increase  in 
salary,  and  was  finally  made  superintendent.  In  1876  he  became  the  sole 
proprietor  of  two  wells  and  ever  since  that  time  has  conducted  independent 
operations  in  connection  with  whatever  position  he  has  held.  His  employer 
voicing  objections  to  the  continuance  of  outside  business  relations,  Mr. 
Hummel,  to  avoid  unpleasant  complications,  resigned  his  position  and  imme- 
diately accepted  another  of  similar  nature  at  an  advanced  salary.  Shortly 
afterward  his  former  employer  requested  him  to  return  to  his  old  position, 
to  which  he  consented,  first  giving  his  new  employer  two  weeks'  notice  of 
his  intended  leave-taking.  This  was  one  of  the  principles  he  had  incorpor- 
ated in  his  business  creed  and  he  was  never  known  to  leave  an  employer 
without  giving  due  notice  of  his  intentions.  In  his  later  life,  nothing  could 
convince  him  so  quickly  of  a  man's  worthlessness  as  the  knowledge  he 
had  deserted  his  position.  For  a  time  he  managed  the  affairs  of  both  men, 
receiving  an  excellent  salary,  and  in  1879  moved  to  Bradford,  where  he 
became  an  oil  and  gas  well-driller.  In  this  occupation  he  became  excep- 
tionally skilled  and  earned,  among  his  associates,  the  sobriquet  "Wild  Cat 
Driller,"  having  kept  as  many  as  nine  sets  of  drills  in  operation  at  one  time. 
In  his  varied  operations  he  has  included  Bradford  and  McKean  counties, 
employing  on  an  average  thirty  men.  His  business  has  also  taken  him  to 
Warren,  Forest  and  Potter  counties,  in  1884  Allegheny  county,  later  Ems- 
worth  and  Baden,  Beaver  county ;  Evansville,  Indiana ;  Lawrence  county, 
Ohio ;  Lawrence  county,  West  Virginia ;  and  Belmont  and  Monroe  counties, 
Ohio.  He  has  been  remarkably  successful  in  his  business,  competency  and 
determination  being  prime  factors  in  the  pleasing  record  he  has  established. 
His  only  other  business  relations  have  been  in  the  manufacture  of  novelties 
and  electrical  supplies,  in  neither  of  which  he  holds  interest  at  the  present 
time.  In  1889  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres 
in  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  following  year  made 
extensive  improvements  to  the  property  and  erected  a  new  barn.  Here  he 
resides  at  the  present  time,  conducting  general  farming  operations  and  rais- 
ing stock  of  high  grade.  With  his  wife,  he  belongs  to  the  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  in  political  belief  is  a  Progressive.  His  public  service 
has  been  confined  to  holding  a  position  on  the  school  board. 

Mr.  Hummel  married  Anna,  daughter  of  John  Rickert,  a  native  of 
Titusville,  Pennsylvania.  Children:  i.  Fred  W.,  a  well  driller  of  Robison, 
Illinois.    2.  Rudolph,  a  missionary  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  now  a  min- 


726  PENNSYLVANIA 

ister  in  California.  3.  Edna,  died  aged  six  years.  4.  Laura  V.,  married 
Jesse  Hicks;  lives  in  Ohio.  5.  Helen,  married  Dr.  M.  A.  Swaney.  6.  Clin- 
ton R.,  a  resident  of  California.  7.  Casper  J.  (2),  died  aged  fourteen  years. 
8.  Eleanor.    9.  Alice,  twin  of  Eleanor,  died  aged  four  years. 


This  is  an  old  and  honored  family  of  Ireland,  and  is 
McCANDLESS     now  in  its  fifth  generation  in  this  country.     The  first 
generation  came  to  the  United  States  when  their  chil- 
dren were  small,  and  settled  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania. 

(II)  Robert  McCandless  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  was  a  very  young 
child  when  he  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents.  He  was  educated  and 
grew  to  maturity  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Center  town- 
ship, where  both  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  McCandless  married  Mary, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  Jack,  of  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  had  chil- 
dren: George  J.,  of  further  mention;  Jane,  married  Samuel  Irwin,  and  died 
in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania ;  Mary,  married  Eli  Eagle,  and  lives  in  Union- 
ville,  Pennsylvania ;  Elizabeth,  married  Frank  Fligger,  and  died  in  Butler 
county,  Pennsylvania;  child,  died  unnamed. 

(III)  George  J.  McCandless,  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Jack)  Mc- 
Candless, was  born  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  15,  1838, 
died  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania,  October  4,  1898.  Like  his  father,  he 
engaged  in  farming,  and  after  his  marriage  bought  about  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  of  land  in  Butler  county,  on  which  he  lived  many  years.  He 
then  purchased  an  old  grist  mill  in  Conoquenessing  township,  and  operated 
this  about  ten  years.  In  1888  he  removed  to  Beaver  Falls,  where  he  lived 
a  retired  life  until  his  death.  During  the  Civil  War  he  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  served  for  a  period  of  seven  months,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  an  active  participant  in  several  skirmishes,  and  was 
then  honorably  discharged  by  reason  of  ill  health.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  had  been 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  a  number  of  years. 
Mr.  McCandless  married,  September  30,  1862,  Samantha  Young,  born  in 
Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  17,  1843,  now  living  in  Beaver  Falls, 
where  she  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  They  had  chil- 
dren :  Addison  Young,  a  grocer  of  Beaver  Falls,  married  Annie  Heaven ; 
Joanna,  married  Wesley  Raisley,  and  lives  in  College  Hill ;  Marcus  William, 
a  grocer,  lives  in  Beaver  Falls,  married  Mary  Cox ;  Robert  Presley,  a  grocer 
in  Beaver  Falls;  Beriah  Nelson,  superintendent  of  a  nail  mill  at  Struthers, 
Ohio ;  Oren  Leonidas,  a  grocer  in  Beaver  Falls ;  Josiah  Convert,  of  further 
mention ;  James,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years ;  Samantha  Jane,  died  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  months;  Edith  Lena,  died  at  the  age  of  seven  weeks; 
child,  died  unnamed;  Sylvester  Merle,  a  plumber,  resides  with  his  mother. 

Robert  Young,  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Samantha  (Young)  Mc- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  727 

Candless,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  his  early  youth. 
He  settled  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  became  an  extensive 
land  owner  and  farmer.  He  married  and  had  children.  Matthew  Young, 
son  of  Robert  Young,  and  father  of  Mrs.  McCandless,  was  born  in  Law- 
rence county,  Pennsylvania,  and  learned  the  trade  of  tanning.  He  became 
the  owner  of  a  tannery  in  Wolf  Creek  township,  Mercer  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  addition  he  had  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres,  which  he  culti- 
vated. He  died  there  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-seven  years.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  political  matters,  and  a  member  of  the  Covenanters  Church. 
He  married  Joanna  Couvert,  born  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  re- 
sided on  the  farm  in  Mercer  county  until  one  year  prior  to  her  death  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years,  when  she  lived  with  her  daughter  Samantha,  in 
Butler  county,  having  never  remarried.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Covenan- 
ters Church.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Colonel  John  and (Bennett)  Cou- 
vert. Colonel  John  Couvert  was  a  veteran  of  the  War  of  1812.  He  lived 
about  four  miles  from  Centerville,  on  a  large  farm  which  he  owned  and  culti- 
vated, and  died  there  when  above  ninety-four  years  of  age.  He  was  a  Presby- 
terian. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  had  children:  Sylvester  M.,  a  merchant,  died 
at  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania;  Caroline,  married  James  Vogand,  and  died  in 
Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania;  Matilda,  married  William  McKee,  and  died 
in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania;  Amanda,  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  years ;  Sarah  Jane,  married  James  Johnson,  and  died  at  Oil  City, 
Venango  county,  Pennsylvania;  Samantha,  married  Mr.  McCandless,  as 
above  mentioned;  Marcus  C,  a  carpenter  and  contractor,  who  lives  at 
Youngstown,  Ohio;  Professor  William  H.,  an  instructor  in  music,  of  New 
Castle,  Pennsylvania. 

(IV)  Josiah  Couvert  McCandless,  son  of  George  J.  and  Samantha 
(Young)  McCandless,  was  born  in  Center  township,  Butler  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, November  20,  1874.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public 
schools  of  Butler  county,  and  in  those  of  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania.  Hav- 
ing completed  his  education  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  he  found  employ- 
ment in  a  nail  factory  for  two  years,  his  especial  work  being  the  heading  of 
the  kegs.  The  record  of  his  business  activities  until  the  present  time  is  as  fol- 
lows :  In  the  employ  of  the  Dietrich  Glass  Company ;  as  a  glass  cutter,  for  six 
years,  for  F.  A.  Eberline,  in  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county ;  six  months  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Bridge  Company ;  seven  years  as  salesman  for  the  National 
Biscuit  Company ;  removed  to  Buiifalo,  New  York,  and  was  salesman  for  the 
New  England  Specialty  Company  (groceries)  for  some  time;  returned  to 
Beaver  Falls,  and  continued  working  for  the  last  mentioned  concern ;  in  1908 
he  opened  a  grocery  and  delicatessen  store  at  No.  201 1  Seventh  avenue, 
Beaver  Falls,  selling  this  on  February  10,  1913.  He  then  removed  to  a  farm 
in  Adams  township,  Butler  county,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year  re- 
turned to  Beaver  Falls,  and  accepted  a  position  with  the  J.  B.  Lytle  Company, 
wholesale  confectioners.  Mr.  McCandless  is  an  independent  in  political 
opinion,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  directors.    He 


728  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  which  insti- 
tution he  has  served  as  a  trustee  for  several  years.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Americans  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  McCandless  married,  December  25,  1892,  Mary  Jane  Snyder,  born 
in  Lowellville,  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  had  children:  Jay 
Young,  born  April  15,  1894,  died  in  July  of  the  same  year;  Laura  Samantha, 
born  August  10,  1895,  married,  November  11,  1913,  William  Karl  Hespen- 
heide,  and  lives  in  Beaver  Falls;  Molly  Joanna,  born  July  31,  1897,  lives 
with  her  parents. 

William  James  Snyder,  father  of  Mrs.  McCandless,  was  of  German 
parentage,  his  parents  having  emigrated  from  Germany  and  purchased  a 
farm  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania.  William  James  was  their  only  child. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  two  years  old,  and  his  father  when  he  was 
four  years  of  age.  He  was  taken  in  charge  by  William  Graham,  and  his 
treatment  was  evidently  not  of  the  kindliest,  as  he  ran  away  three  times, 
and  finally  joined  the  army  as  a  drummer  boy  when  he  was  fourteen  years 
old.  He  was  captured  by  the  Confederate  soldiers,  taken  a  prisoner  to 
Andersonville  Prison,  and  while  there  lived  on  raw  onions.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  the  Graham  family  and  lived  on  a  farm  three 
miles  from  Mercer  until  he  had  attained  maturity.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
iron  working  in  New  Castle,  and  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life  there  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  years.  He  rose  to  the  rank  of  a  boss  in  the  furnace, 
later  becoming  a  stable  boss  at  a  livery  stable,  a  position  he  held  until  his 
death.  He  and  his  wife  were  Methodists.  He  married  Laura  Simmons, 
born  in  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  (Wat- 
terson)  Simmons,  the  former  born  in  Germany,  emigrated  to  America,  and 
located  on  a  farm  he  purchased  near  New  Castle,  Lawrence  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. William  James  and  Laura  (Simmons)  Snyder  had  children: 
Minnie  Belle,  married  John  N.  Frazier,  lives  in  Beaver  Falls;  Charles  B., 
a  stationary  engineer,  married  (first)  Myrtle  Seafrost,  (second)  Jennie 
Young,  lives  in  Deerfield,  Ohio;  Mary  Jane,  married  Mr.  McCandless,  as 
above  stated;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  married  Albert  Bohemus,  and  lives  on  a 
farm  at  Deerfield,  Ohio;  Benjamin  Franklin,  deceased,  married  Maud  Teaf- 
enbaugh,  and  lived  at  Beaver  Falls;  William  John,  died  at  the  age  of  four 
months;  James  Clyde,  employed  on  the  ships  on  the  Great  Lakes,  married 
Elsie  Canarem,  now  deceased. 


Hesse-Cassel,  formerly  an  independent  state  of  the  Ger- 
KORNMANN     man  Empire,  since  1866  incorporated  with  the  Prussian 

state,  and  now  a  part  of  the  province  of  Hesse-Nassau, 
has  long  been  the  seat  of  the  family  of  Kornmann,  represented  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  by  Frederick  Kornmann,  the  emigrant  ancestor,  and 
his  children.  The  history  of  the  name  in  the  German  Empire  covers  genera- 
tions, during  which  time  its  members  bravely  sought  out  their  end  and 
destiny  in  whatever  fields  they  were  placed,  gave  willingly  of  their  services 


BEAVER    COUNTY  729 

to  defend  the  homeland  from  the  conquest  of  the  invader,  and  in  all  things 
deported  themselves  as  true  men  and  as  true  Germans. 

This  record  begins  with  Frederick  Kornmann,  bom  in  that  part 
of  Germany,  where  he  lived  and  died.  His  trade  was  that  of  nail-maker, 
and  as  such  passed  all  of  his  years.  For  several  years  he  was  a  soldier  in  the 
German  army,  engaging  in  many  battles,  his  foes  in  some  instances  being  the 
army  of  no  less  worthy  an  opponent  than  Napoleon  of  France.  His  death 
occurred  when  he  was  seventy  years  of  age,  his  wife's  age  sixty-six.  He 
married  Gertrude  Brandt,  a  native  of  the  same  part  of  Germany  as  he,  and 
had  children:  i.  Jacob,  died  in  Germany;  was  a  disciple  of  the  trade  of  his 
father,  later  a  farmer.  2.  Conrad,  ran  away  from  home  more  than  sixty 
years  ago,  since  which  time  no  reports  have  been  received  from  him  by 
his  family.  3.  Frederick,  of  whom  further.  4.  Mary,  married,  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  James  Harsha;  died  in  New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania; 
one  of  their  sons,  Frederick,  resides  in  New  Brighton  at  the  present  time. 
5.  John,  came  to  America  and  later  returned  to  his  native  land,  where  he 
died.    6.  Catharine,  unmarried. 

Frederick  (2)  Kornmann,  son  of  Frederick  (i)  and  Gertrude  (Brandt) 
Kornmann,  was  born  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Prussia,  Germany,  November  22, 
1833.  He  was  nineteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
having  as  a  boy  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  homeland,  and  he  came 
at  once  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  apprenticing  himself  to  the  black- 
smith's trade  in  Freedom.  He  worked  at  this  trade  until  he  was  thirty-three 
years  of  age,  and  with  his  savings  purchased  a  farm  of  forty  acres  at  Smiths 
Ferry,  Pennsylvania,  selling  his  property  after  one  year  and  buying  ninety 
acres  of  well-improved  land  in  New  Sewickley  township,  in  which  place  he 
has  since  resided.  This  land  he  has  caused  to  yield  plentifully,  and  has 
acquired  title  to  two  others  of  like  size  in  the  same  township,  witnesses  to 
the  careful  investment  he  has  made  of  his  profits  as  they  accumulated  from 
his  industrious  labor.  At  one  time  he  raised  full-blooded  Holstein  cattle  upon 
his  farm  and  conducted  a  dairy  business,  but  from  this  line  of  activity  he 
retired  some  years  since.  He  was  skilled  in  the  care  and  breeding  of  cattle, 
his  stock  comparing  favorably  with  that  of  any  farmer  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  the  products  that  he  distributed  through  the  medium  of  his  dairy  were 
of  the  highest  quality  and  purity.  A  Democrat  politically,  he  served  the 
township  as  school  director  and  as  supervisor,  while  he  was  a  member,  with 
his  wife,  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Kornmann  married,  in  1856,  Barbara,  born  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1852,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, May  22,  1913,  aged  eighty-two  years,  daughter  of  George  and 
Mary  (Jahn)  Schueler.  Children  of  Frederick  (2)  and  Barbara  (Schueler) 
Kornmann:  i.  Mary.  2.  Jeannette,  married  George  Franz,  deceased;  lives 
in  Freedom,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Frederick  Jr.,  a  farmer  of  Rochester  town- 
ship, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Adam,  a  resident  of  Rochester,  Penn- 
sylvania, engages  in  the  moving  picture  business.    5.  Catherine,  deceased; 


730  PENNSYLVANIA 

married  John  Grossman.  6.  George,  lives  on  a  farm  owned  by  his  father. 
7.  Charles,  a  stationary  engineer,  resides  in  Freedom,  Pennsylvania.  8. 
Margaret,  lives  unmarried  in  Rochester,  Pennsylvania.  9.  John,  an  elec- 
trician, of  Rochester. 


The  founder  of  the  Swiss  family  of  Amsler  in  the  United 
AMSLER  States  was  the  grandfather  of  William  Hammann  Amsler, 
of  this  narrative,  who  before  his  immigration  to  the  United 
States  in  1834,  held  rank  in  the  regular  army  of  Switzerland.  His  occu- 
pation in  the  homeland,  before  and  after  his  military  service,  was  that  of 
farmer,  and  that  was  his  calling  after  his  settlement  in  Beaver  county, 
whither  he  had  come  soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  United  States  and  where 
he  died,  aged  eighty-two  years.  His  wife,  Mary  (Havily)  Amsler,  likewise 
died  in  that  locality,  both  being  members  of  the  Reformed  Evangelical 
Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  several  children,  of  whom  five  grew  to 
maturity;  Jacob,  died  in  Switzerland;  John  Gottlieb,  died  in  Rochester, 
New  York;  Rose,  deceased,  married  Samuel  Doublebiss;  Lucetta,  deceased, 
married  Fred  Bock;  Charles  Henry,  of  whom  further. 

(H)  Charles  Henry  Amsler  was  born  in  Switzerland,  May  21,  1831, 
and  when  three  years  of  age  was  brought  to  the  United  States  by  his  par- 
ents. His  early  life  was  spent  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  family 
home  being  on  the  Brownsville  road,  in  Baldwin  township,  and  in  that  local- 
ity he  attended  school.  When  a  young  man  of  about  nineteen  years  he 
began  independent  farming  operations  on  a  rented  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  acres,  which  he  later  purchased,  and  all  his  active  life  was 
an  enthusiastic  and  successful  agriculturist.  He  now  lives  retired  in  Leets- 
dale,  Pennsylvania,  aged  eighty-three  years.  His  has  not  been  a  life  of 
"ignoble  ease,"  which  one  of  our  greatest  statesmen  decries,  but  has  been 
filled  with  diligent  toil,  and  that  his  final  years  may  be  spent  in  peaceful 
quietude  is  a  fitting  respite  from  the  labor  of  years.  His  lifelong  faith 
has  been  that  of  the  Reformed  Evangelical  Church,  to  which  his  wife  also 
belonged,  and  in  which  he  held  office,  while  his  political  support  has  ever 
been  accorded  the  Democratic  party. 

He  married  Christina  Hammann,  born  in  Economy  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-two  years, 
her  husband  never  marrying  a  second  time.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Philip 
Hammann,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  in  that  country  was  a  baker,  continu- 
ing at  his  trade  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  for  eighteen  years  after  his 
immigration  to  the  United  States.  He  later  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  six  acres  in  Economy  township,  Beaver  county,  on  Shield's  first  survey, 
and  there  died.  He  married  Elizabeth  Britenstein,  and  had  the  following 
children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased :  Elizabeth,  married  William  B.  Junker ; 
William,  unmarried ;  Christina,  of  previous  mention,  married  Charles  Henry 
Amsler.  Children  of  Charles  Henry  and  Christina  (Hammann)  Amsler: 
I.  Emilia,  married  Dr.  William  Linnenbrink,  deceased;  lives  in  Ambridge; 


BEAVER    COUNTY  731 

children:  Cora,  married  Lesley  Meek,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl- 
v.mia;  Teny,  married  Harvey  Patterson,  and  lives  in  Wisconsin,  the  mother 
of  four  children;  Alma,  lives  at  home,  unmarried;  Charles,  died  aged  about 
three  years.  2.  Sophia,  married  William  Sohm;  lives  in  Leetsdale,  Penn- 
sylvania; they  have:  Archie,  married  V.  O.  Williams,  and  lives  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania,  the  parent  of  one  child,  Jene,  aged  three  years ;  Al- 
bert, lives  at  home,  unmarried;  Viola,  lives  unmarried  at  home.  3.  William 
Hammann,  of  whom  further.  4.  Henry,  married  Annie  Otto ;  lives  in  Econ- 
omy township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania ;  they  have :  A  child,  who  died 
in  infancy,  unnamed ;  Charles,  twin  of  the  first,  died  aged  two  years ;  Walter, 
lives  with  his  parents,  as  do  Lawrence,  Olive,  Howard.  5.  Mary,  married 
Albert  Gross,  deceased;  lives  in  Leetsdale,  Pennsylvania. 

(HI)  William  Hammann  Amsler,  third  child  and  first  son  of  Charles 
Henry  and  Christina  (Hammann)  Amsler,  was  born  in  Economy  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  12,  i860.  Until  he  was  twenty-four  years 
of  age  he  lived  on  his  father's  farm,  in  boyhood  attending  the  public  schools 
and  later  assisting  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  his  acres  and  the  per- 
formance of  the  many  duties  incident  to  farm  life.  Since  that  time  he  has 
lived  on  his  own  farm  and  conducted  agricultural  operations  independently 
with  excellent  success,  his  land  being  of  the  best  in  the  neighborhood  and 
his  methods  of  cultivation  modern,  modeled  after  the  scientific  experiments 
that  have  been  productive  of  the  best  results.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
belief  and  for  ten  years  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  in  Economy  township, 
an  office  to  which  he  was  recently  re-elected,  but  which  he  declined  to  accept, 
feeling  that  in  that  department  of  public  service  he  had  more  than  done 
all  that  loyalty  to  his  township  and  the  duties  of  good  citizenship  demanded. 
For  several  terms  he  was  also  supervisor  of  roads  in  the  township,  and  dur- 
ing his  tenure  of  office  was  instrumental  in  procuring  for  the  locality  many 
highway  improvements.  Mr.  Amsler  holds  membership  in  the  Beaver  County 
Agricultural  Association,  an  organization  that  has  done  a  valuable  work  in 
introducing  to  the  farmers  of  the  region  the  results  of  the  new  scientific 
methods  practicalized  for  daily  use  and  in  disseminating  information  on 
topics  of  interest  and  benefit  to  its  members,  and  as  one  of  the  executive 
committee  has  been  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  many  practically  helpful 
projects  of  the  association. 

He  married,  April  23,  1884,  Sophia  Frey,  born  in  Marshall  township, 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  26,  1866,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Knoderer)  Frey,  the  latter  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came 
to  the  United  States  when  twelve  years  of  age.  She  was  born  in  183 1,  and 
is  now  living  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  aged  eighty-four  years. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Captain  Frederick  Knoderer,  who  spent  many 
years  in  the  military  service  of  his  country,  and  was  with  Napoleon  on  his 
trip  through  Russia.  John  Frey  was  brought  to  this  country  when  a  boy 
of  four  years  of  age,  and  all  his  life  was  a  farmer  in  Allegheny  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  his  death  occurred.    John  and  Sarah  (Knoderer)  Frey 


732  PENNSYLVANIA 

were  the  parents  of:  i.  Christina,  married  John  Leathen;  lives  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  Pennsylvania;  their  children:  John,  unmarried;  Margaret, 
married  Samuel  Warrick,  and  has  one  child ;  Sadie,  deceased,  married  Lester 
Bohmer,  and  had  three  children,  her  husband  living  in  Ohio;  William,  mar- 
ried Mary  Warrick,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  the  father  of  one  child ;  Homer, 
lives  unmarried  at  home ;  Roy,  lives  at  home,  unmarried.  2.  Elizabeth,  died 
aged  nineteen  years.  3.  Catherine,  married  Fred  George ;  lives  in  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania;  their  children:  William;  Mary,  married  John  Zort- 
man,  and  lives  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania;  Minnie,  married  Frank 
Eickley,  and  lives  in  Allegheny  county,  the  mother  of  two  children,  one  of 
whom  is  deceased;  John,  married  a  Miss  Neely,  and  lives  in  Sewickley, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  Clara,  married  Albert  Sheib,  and  lives  in 
Economy  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren; Christian,  lives  at  home,  unmarried;  Carl,  lives  unmarried  at  home. 
4.  Margaret,  married  Henry  Marr;  lives  in  Economy  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania ;  their  children :  Clara,  lives  at  home,  unmarried ;  Flora, 
lives  at  home,  unmarried ;  Lester,  married  Edith  Taubit,  and  lives  in  Econ- 
omy township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  father  of  one  daughter, 
Florence;  Margaret,  married  James  Fegley,  and  lives  in  Gary,  Indiana,  the 
mother  of  three  children :  Margaret,  James,  and  an  infant ;  Stella  and  Hazel, 
live  at  home,  unmarried.  5.  Henrietta,  married  Henry  Gross ;  lives  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  Pennsylvania;  they  are  the  parents  of  two  sons:  Irwin,  mar- 
iied  Clara  Arnold,  and  has  three  children:  Gladys,  Alvin,  and  an  infant; 
Arthur,  at  home.  7.  William,  died  aged  two  years.  8.  Christian,  married 
Lucinda  Roll,  deceased;  lives  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  with  his 
four  children,  all  of  whom  live  at  home :  Edith,  Ruth,  Margaret,  Raymond. 
9.  Emma,  married  John  Graff ;  lives  in  Ohio,  the  mother  of  four  children,  of 
whom  Edna,  Mabel  and  Emma  Jane,  are  three,  the  first  two  married,  Edna 
being  the  mother  of  two  children.  10.  Sophia,  of  previous  mention,  married 
William  H.  Amsler.  11.  Anna,  died  aged  two  years.  12.  Ida,  married 
William  Black,  and  lives  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  mother  of 
three  children,  all  of  whom  live  at  home,  Clyde,  Elmer,  Edith.  13.  Clara, 
married  Albert  Hillman,  and  has  three  children,  all  living  at  home,  Mildred, 
Erma,  Herbert. 

Children  of  William  Hammann  and  Sophia  (Frey)  Amsler:  i.  Edith, 
born  April  15,  1886,  a  student  of  theology  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  she  is 
taking  up  a  special  course.  2.  Albert,  born  July  18,  1888,  married  Clara 
Charleston,  and  lives  on  the  home  farm;  children:  Ethel,  died  aged  two 
years,  and  Florence,  aged  eighteen  months.  3.  Grace,  born  November  29, 
1891 ;  married  Raymond  Bruce,  and  has  one  child,  Helen.  4.  Emma,  born 
July  16,  1894;  lives  at  home.  5.  Charles,  born  May  14,  1897;  lives  at  home. 
6.  Marie,  born  November  14,  1900.  7.  Helen,  bom  April  12,  191 1.  Mr. 
Amsler's  post  office  address  is  Baden,  Pennsylvania,  Rural  Free  Delivery, 
No.  2. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  733 

Although  Pennsylvania  can  lay  claim  to  but  little  as  the 
THOMPSON  scene  of  the  life  and  labors  of  William  Thompson,  the 
founder  of  this  line  of  the  Thompson  family,  in  America, 
the  state  nevertheless  was  the  first  home  of  the  emigrant  in  the  United  States. 
William  Thompson  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  one  of  her  sons  who  despaired  of 
finding  opportunity  in  his  homeland,  and  came  to  the  United  States  when  a 
young  man,  making  his  first  home  near  Georgetown,  Pennsylvania.  He  here 
m.arried  and  for  a  time  engaged  in  general  farming,  later  moving  to  Cal- 
cutta, Ohio,  and  became  the  proprietor  of  the  general  store  so  well  known 
to  rural  districts.  He  continued  in  this  line  until  his  death,  prominent  in 
the  community,  and  popular  as  well,  the  first  by  virtue  of  the  conspicuous 
part  he  played  in  the  town  life,  his  store  being  the  sole  "mart  of  trade,"  the 
second  because  of  his  genial  and  aflfable  manner.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  and  generous  contributors  to  the  support  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Children,  the  first  six  deceased,  their  entire  lives  having 
been  spent  in  Ohio :  William,  Josiah,  Matthew,  John,  George,  Samuel ;  Mary, 
widow  of  Dr.  Scroggs  Sr.,  lives  in  California,  in  her  eighty-eighth  year; 
David  Clark,  of  whom  further. 

(H)  David  Clark  Thompson,  son  of  William  Thompson,  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  Pennsylvania,  in  1817,  died  in  Glasgow,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1898.  He  spent  his  adolescent  years  in  the  former  locality, 
and  when  a  young  man  entered  the  mercantile  business  in  Glasgow,  selling 
his  store  to  enter  upon  farming  operations.  After  following  this  occupation 
for  a  time  he  became  interested  in  oil  operations,  with  moderate  success. 
His  death  occurred  on  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  near  Smiths 
Ferry.  His  political  belief  was  Republican,  although  he  never  took  part  in 
the  activities  of  the  organization,  and  with  his  wife  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  (first)  Mary  Ann  Rayl,  born  about  1820, 
died  in  1859,  (second)  Clarinda  Rayl,  daughter  of  Noble  Rayl,  and  a  relative 
cf  his  first  wife.  Children  of  the  first  marriage:  r.  Susan,  married  Dr. 
Nevin,  and  lives  in  Negley,  Ohio,  where  he  is  engaged  in  practice.  2.  Ella, 
married  Dr.  William  Sawyer,  a  practitioner  of  Darlington,  Pennsylvania.  3. 
William  R.,  of  whom  further.  4.  Matilda,  died  in  infancy.  5.  Mary  Ann, 
married  Monroe  Patterson,  and  lives  at  East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  Children 
of  second  marriage:  6.  Ida,  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  lives  at  home. 
7.  Maria,  lives  at  home,  unmarried.  8.  Samuel,  a  merchant  of  Shamokin, 
Pennsylvania.  9.  George,  a  lawyer  practicing  in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  10. 
Laura,  formerly  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  now  living  at  home. 

(Ill)  William  R.  Thompson,  eldest  son  and  third  child  of  David  Clark 
and  Mary  Ann  (Rayl)  Thompson,  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  May  10,  1853.  He  attended  the  Rockport  school  at  Smiths 
Ferry  and  there  obtained  his  entire  education.  Until  1893  he  was  connected 
with  the  oil  fields  in  various  capacities,  finally  as  operator,  discontinuing  his 
relations  with  that  industry  to  engage  in  farming,  cultivating  a  rented  farm 
near  Black  Hawk,  Pennsylvania.     Six  years  later  he  purchased  a  tract  of 


734  PENNSYLVANIA 

one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  acres  in  Industry  township,  which  he  named 
"Calamity  Farm"  and  has  there  ever  since  resided.  If  ever  a  title  was  a 
misnomer  it  is  surely  "Calamity  Farm,"  for  his  operations  along  agricul- 
tural lines  have  met  with  all  good  fortune,  and  have  been  attended  by  their 
due  share  of  profit.  Here,  in  addition  to  his  grain  and  vegetables,  he  devotes 
a  great  deal  of  time  and  space  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit  trees,  his  apples  and 
peaches  ranking  with  the  best  raised  in  the  region.  Plums  are  also  the  object 
of  his  constant  care  and  attention,  a  very  high  grade  of  fruit  resulting  there- 
from. He  also  operates  two  oil  wells,  both  of  steady  flow,  from  which  he 
realizes  a  substantial  income.  Mr.  Thompson  has  ever  been  a  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  substantial  member  of  the  community,  a 
farmer  along  modem  lines,  and  has  behind  him  an  honorable  record  in 
business  life. 

He  married,  in  1880,  Mary  Irene  Stewart,  a  native  of  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Bruce)  Stewart.  Daniel 
Stewart,  born  in  Hancock  county,  Virginia,  now  West  Virginia,  October  28, 
1830,  died  in  Georgetown,  Pennsylvania;  he  was  a  carpenter;  married  Cathe- 
rine Bruce,  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  12,  1833, 
now  living  with  her  son,  William  R.,  aged  eighty  years.  Although  at  such 
an  advanced  age  her  health  is  good,  her  faculties  clear,  and  her  capacity  for 
the  enjoyment  of  life  unimpaired.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary 
Bruce,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  on  coming  to  the  United  States  settled  in 
Allegheny,  Pennsylvania,  later  moving  to  Hancock  county,  West  Virginia, 
where  began  the  courtship  that  terminated  in  her  marriage  to  Daniel  Stewart. 
Children  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Bruce)  Stewart:  i.  Mary  Irene,  of  pre- 
vious mention,  married  William  R.  Thompson.  2.  Camelia,  deceased;  mar- 
ried Isaac  Dougherty.  3.  Alice,  deceased ;  married  George  D.  Dawson.  4. 
Jennie,  married  Howard  Davis ;  lives  in  Detroit,  Michigan.  5.  George,  acci- 
dentally killed  in  November,  1906.  6.  Bertha,  married  John  Sebastian ;  lives 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Children  of  William  R.  and  Mary  Irene  (Stewart) 
Thompson:  i.  Clark  Stewart;  lives  at  home.  2.  Mary  Ann.  3.  Irene,  mar- 
ried George  McKee;  resides  at  East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  4.  Clara,  twin  of 
Iiene,  married  Charles  Baxter;  lives  at  Wellsville,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Thompson's  residence  near  Industry,  Pennsylvania,  is  linked  with 
the  pioneer  days  of  the  county  in  no  uncertain  manner.  The  east  wing  of 
the  house  is  composed  of  the  original  log  cabin  erected  on  the  site,  although 
the  roughly  hewn  timbers  have  been  weatherboarded  so  that  its  antiquity  is 
not  discernible  at  a  glance.  This  part  is  more  than  a  century  and  a  half  old, 
tradition  recording  that  in  its  spacious  chimney,  leading  upward  from  an 
open  fire-place,  an  Indian  was  shot  and  killed  by  Aunt  Betty  Reed,  who  was 
alone  in  the  house,  guarding  it  from  savage  depredations.  It  is  indeed  inter- 
esting to  discover  such  landmarks  connecting  so  closely  with  the  thrilling 
d.'iys  of  the  past,  so  rapidly  fading  in  time's  mists. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  735 

John  Thompson  was  born  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state 
THOMPSON  of  Pennsylvania,  and  later  journeyed  across  the  moun- 
tains and  took  up  his  residence  in  Greene  township, 
Beaver  county,  with  the  interests  of  which  section  this  family  has  since  been 
closely  identified.  In  1787  he  was  awarded  a  grant  of  land  of  sixty  acres, 
and  this  he  cleared  and  cultivated.  He  was  accidentally  killed  during  the 
construction  of  the  public  road  which  now  passes  the  family  residence.  He 
married  and  had  several  children. 

(H)  William  Thompson,  son  of  John  Thompson,  was  born  in  Greene 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  educated  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  that  period.  His  entire  life  was  spent  on  the  homestead 
where  he  had  been  bom,  and  to  which  he  added  one  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married 
Ruth  Conner,  and  had  children.  Ursula;  Jane;  Mary;  Ann;  Milo,  see 
forward ;  Samuel ;  William. 

(HI)  Milo  Thompson,  son  of  William  and  Ruth  (Conner)  Thompson, 
was  bom  on  the  family  homestead  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  educated  in  the  township  schools.  During  his  youth  he 
assisted  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  then  engaged  in 
work  on  a  steamboat,  and  was  thus  occupied  on  the  lower  Mississippi  river 
for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  He  then  returned  to  the  homestead,  and 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In 
political  matters  he  was  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  family  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  Mary  Moody,  born  on  the  Moody 
homestead,  just  south  of  Hookstown,  and  they  had  children:  i.  Lucretia, 
married  G.  W.  Workman.  2.  Clark,  see  forward.  3.  Margaret,  who  mar- 
ried John  P.  Cotter,  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Harry  L.,  deceased, 
who  received  his  degree  as  Civil  Engineer  from  Purdue  University,  Lafay- 
ette, Indiana.  In  1903,  while  he  was  still  a  student  at  the  university,  a 
train  which  carried  him  and  a  number  of  the  other  students,  was  wrecked 
near  Indianapolis  and  Mr.  Thompson  \^s  seriously  injured.  He  completed 
his  course,  but  his  injuries  were  of  so  serious  a  nature  that  he  eventually 
died  as  a  result  of  them,  never  having  been  able  to  practice  his  profession. 

(IV)  Clark  Thompson,  son  of  Milo  and  Mary  (Moody)  Thompson, 
was  born  on  the  Thompson  homestead  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  August  10,  1867.  He  acquired  an  excellent  practical  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  township,  and  from  his  earliest  years  assisted 
materially  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  In  this  manner  he  obtained  a  thorough 
working  knowledge  of  all  the  details  of  farm  cultivation,  and  when  the  entire 
management  rested  in  his  hands,  in  the  course  of  time,  he  was  able  to  take 
up  these  responsibilities  in  a  capable  manner.  He  has  displayed  an  unusual 
amount  of  financial  and  executive  ability  and  has  been  identified  with  some 
of  the  most  prominent  enterprises  in  this  section  of  the  country.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Triumph  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
July  23,  1907,  and  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  since  its  inception.    He 


736  PENNSYLVANIA 

is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Midland  Bank.  In  political 
matters  he  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and  prefers  to  form  his  opin- 
ions independently  rather  than  be  bound  by  ties  of  partisanship.  He  is  a 
member  of  Glasgow  Lodge,  No.  485,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  In  re- 
ligious faith  he  adheres  to  the  Presbyterian  denomination.  Mr.  Thompson 
married,  January  12,  1902,  Ada  M.,  daughter  of  Stephen  Doak,  of  Beaver 
county;  one  child,  William  Harry,  born  December  9,  1913. 


Originating  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  this  branch  of  the  Baker 
BAKER     family  had  its  beginning  in  America  in  the  persons  of  four 

immigrants  whose  arrival  was  as  unwelcome  as  such  an  event 
could  be.  They  were  Hessians,  and  their  arrival  in  this  country  was  as  the 
pledged  foe  of  the  thirteen  colonies  that  had  recently  banded  themselves 
together  to  resist  the  oppressions  of  tyranny  and  the  unjust  exactions  of  the 
ruling  monarch  of  the  mother  country.  It  was  here  that  the  Baker  immi- 
grants displayed  the  qualities  that  had  induced  the  imminent  conflict,  and, 
after  viewing  the  Colonial  situation  from  both  sides  with  the  unimpassioned 
judgment  of  the  foreigner,  arrived  at  the  decision  that  they  could  not  con- 
scientiously fight  against  a  people  whose  wrongs  were  so  obvious  and  whose 
grievances  so  well  founded.  They  came  of  sturdy  stock  and  the  light  of 
duty  was  a  beacon  that  had  guided  the  race  for  generations,  and  they  felt 
iio  disloyalty  in  deserting  the  cause  of  their  English  masters  and  in  allying 
themselves  with  the  Colonial  forces.  Ever  after  their  arrival  on  the  Ameri- 
can continent  they  were  at  heart  Americans  of  the  truest  type,  and  fought  for 
independence  with  the  same  loyal  zeal  that  inspired  those  who  had  suffered 
under  royal  rule  in  the  colonies. 

There  were  three  brothers — George,  Jacob  and  Peter — who  came  with 
their  father,  George  Baker,  while  Elizabeth  and  Henry,  two  other  children, 
remained  at  their  birthplace,  Strassberg,  Germany. 

(I)  George  Baker,  born  in  1732,  died  April  17,  1802.  He  came  to 
America  about  1750,  and  located  on  Raccoon  creek,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  was  the  first  permanent  settler  in  his  section  of  the  country,  which 
was  in  what  is  now  Moon  township.  He  located  at  Baker's  Station  in  1774, 
and  took  part  in  the  Dunmore  War,  a  blockhouse  having  been  previously 
erected.  The  cabin  in  which  they  lived  with  their  children — George,  Daniel 
and  Michael — was  attacked  by  the  Indians.  One  Indian  came  down  the 
chimney  and  attacked  Mr.  Baker  with  a  large  knife.  The  blow  was  warded 
oflf  by  Mr.  Baker,  who  seized  the  knife  and  was  severely  cut  across  the  fin- 
gers. The  entire  family  was  captured  and  taken  to  Detroit,  where  they  were 
made  to  run  the  gauntlet.  They  were  then  sold  to  British  officers,  who  took 
them  to  Quebec,  and  resold  them  to  the  highest  bidder.  After  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne  they  were  exchanged  to  the  south  branch  of  tlie  Potomac  river 
and  in  1785  reached  their  old  home  in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. George  Baker  married  Elizabeth  Nickelson,  an  Englishwoman  of 
exceptional  talent  and  beauty.    She  sent  to  England  for  her  wedding  trous- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  737 

seau  and  the  ceremony  was  in  all  probability  performed  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia. She  died  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  and  they  are  both  buried  in  the 
graveyard  on  the  land  which  he  originally  took  up.  They  had  children: 
George,  see  forward;  Daniel,  born  in  1768,  died  April  26,  1843;  Michael  and 
John,  no  record;  Henry  G.,  died  October  S,  1839,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years. 

(II)  George  (2)  Baker,  son  of  George  (i)  and  Elizabeth  (Nickelson) 
Baker,  was  born  February  20,  1762,  died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  two 
months  and  eleven  days.  He  married,  June  3,  1794,  Jane  Quinn,  born  in 
1772,  died  October  3,  1857.-  They  had  children:  i.  Eleanor,  born  April  30, 
1797,  died  August  28,  1865 ;  married  Samuel  Nelson.  2.  George,  born  June 
II,  1799,  died  in  his  seventy-sixth  year;  married  Elizabeth  Hall.  3.  Eliza- 
beth, born  March  31,  1802.  4.  Michael,  see  forward.  5.  Isabel,  born  July 
14,  1807,  died  June  19,  1858;  married  James  F.  Hall,  born  January  28,  1801, 
died  March  12,  1889.  6.  Charles  Quinn,  born  May  20,  1810,  died  June  i, 
1886;  married  Elizabeth  Ann  Nickem,  born  March  6,  1812,  died  April  17, 
1893.  7.  John  G.,  born  June  6,  1813,  died  January  6,  1896;  married  Mar- 
garet Shroades.  8.  Mary  Jane,  born  February  3,  1816,  died  August  10, 
1881 ;  married  Wilson  Uselton,  April  30,  1855,  who  died  November  14,  1881. 

(III)  Michael  Baker,  son  of  George  (2)  and  Jane  (Quinn)  Baker,  was 
born  September  26,  1804,  died  April  16,  1881.  For  many  years  he  lived  on 
the  land  on  which  his  grandson,  James  Orin  Baker,  now  lives.  He  came  to 
the  place  about  1840,  cleared  the  land  and  cultivated  it  for  general  produce. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  political  matters,  and  a  member  of  Mount  Carmel 
Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Baker  married  Mary  Jane  Nickem,  who  died 
April  I,  1869,  in  her  sixty-first  year.  Children:  John;  George,  see  for- 
ward; Joseph,  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War,  killed  in  action  at  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville ;  Martha,  Eliza  J.,  Melinda,  Isabella,  Adeline,  Mary. 

(IV)  George  (3)  Baker,  son  of  Michael  and  Mary  Jane  (Nickem) 
Baker,  was  born  in  Independence  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  district.  He  was  a  farmer 
all  his  life  on  a  farm  now  owned  by  Dr.  Joseph  H.  Baker,  remaining  there 
from  1865  to  1900,  when  his  death  occurred.  His  political  affiliations  were 
with  the  Republican  party.  After  the  death  of  George  Baker  his  widow 
removed  to  Georgetown,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  now  resides  in 
Beaver.  He  married,  November  5,  1857,  Emeline  Wamock,  and  they  had 
children:  James  Orin,  see  forward;  Calvin  Quinn,  deceased;  Daniel  W.,  a 
practicing  physician ;  Joseph  Henry,  see  forward ;  Michael ;  Edward ;  Lillian, 
married  Calvin  Kronk,  and  resides  in  Beaver,  Pennsylvania;  Vesta  Agnes 
and  Vinie  J.,  twins ;  Vesta  A.,  married  Frederick  Patton,  and  Vinie  J.,  mar- 
ried John  H.  Glasser;  Edwin,  deceased. 

Joseph  Warnock,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Baker,  was  an  early  settler  near 
Sheffield,  and  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  there,  comprising  several  hundred 
acres.  He  married,  and  had  children:  James,  see  forward;  John,  Nancy, 
Margaret,  Mary. 


738  PENNSYLVANIA 

James  Warnock,  son  of  Joseph  Warnock,  was  born  near  Sheffield, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  From  a  very  early  age  he  commenced  to 
manage  a  farm.  Later  he  was  a  constable,  and  also  carried  the  mail  from 
where  Woodlawn  is  now  located  to  Hookstown.  After  he  had  sold  suffi- 
cient of  his  land  to  furnish  the  present  site  of  Sheffield,  he  still  retained 
one  hundred  and  six  acres  for  his  private  use.  He  was  a  Republican,  and 
a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Warnock  married  Agnes 
Christy,  born  near  New  Sheffield,  a  member  of  an  old  family  of  settlers. 
They  had  children:  Rebecca;  Mary;  Emeline,  married  George  Baker; 
Joseph,  Daniel,  who  was  killed  during  the  Civil  War  at  the  Second  Battle 
of  Bull  Run. 

(V)  James  Orin  Baker,  son  of  George  (3)  and  Emeline  (Warnock) 
Baker,  was  born  in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  August 
4,  1858.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  township,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  all  of  his  life.  He  is  the  owner  of  seventy-six 
acres  of  fine  farming  land,  which  was  a  part  of  the  tract  originally  taken 
up  by  his  grandfather.  In  191 1  he  had  a  very  fine  and  commodious  barn 
erected,  and  he  devotes  a  good  part  of  his  farm  to  dairying,  in  which  he  is 
very  successful,  selling  his  milk  at  Woodlawn.  He  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  local  political  matters,  in  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
filled  the  office  of  supervisor  for  the  past  seven  years.  His  religious  affilia- 
tions are  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Baker  married  Sarah  Eliza- 
beth White,  and  they  have  had  children :  Harry  D.,  Euphemia  C,  George, 
Grace,  Arthur,  Martha,  Emeline,  Sarah. 

(V)  Dr.  Joseph  Henry  Baker,  son  of  George  (3)  and  Emeline  (War- 
nock) Baker,  was  born  in  New  Sheffield,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
October  27,  1864.  He  passed  his  early  life  on  the  home  farm  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  after  preliminary  studies  in  the  public  schools 
entered  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Western  Pennsylvania, 
whence  he  was  graduated,  M.  D.  in  the  class  of  1893.  Soon  after  receiv- 
ing his  degree  he  established  in  practice  at  Rochester,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  was  a  well  known  and  active  physician  for  eighteen  years,  in  191 1 
moving  to  Woodlawn,  Pennsylvania,  his  present  residence.  Dr.  Baker's 
professional  career  has  been  characterized  by  the  influence  his  warmly  sym- 
pathetic nature  has  had  upon  his  actions,  for  none  in  need  of  medical  care 
and  attention  was  ever  refused  admission  at  his  office,  nor  was  he  ever  called 
in  vain.  He  is  a  physician  of  high  rank,  a  ceaseless  student  of  all  modern 
discoveries  that  affect  his  profession,  and  is  regarded  with  respect  and 
deference  by  his  medical  brethren.  He  owns  property  in  Rochester,  that 
at  No.  150  Madison  street.  Dr.  Baker  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Rochester  Presbyterian  Church. 

Dr.  Baker  married,  in  1884,  Adda  Luella,  daughter  of  Arthur  (de- 
ceased) and  Angeline  (Meaner)  White.  Children:  i.  Hazel,  educated  for 
the  teacher's  profession  in  the  Slippery  Rock  State  Normal  School,  a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Rochester  and  Woodlawn.     2.  Joseph  De  Witt,  a 


a^"^ 


BEAVER   COUNTY  739 

graduate  of  the  Woodlawn  high  school,  class  of  1914.    3.  Lawrence  W.,  a 
student  in  the  public  schools. 


(V)  Thomas  Howard  White,  son  of  Chamberlain  (q.  v.)  and 
WHITE     Sarah  M.  (Elliot)  White,  was  born  in  Beaver,  Beaver  county, 

Pennsylvania,  August  17,  1873.  Until  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
he  attended  the  public  schools  of  Beaver  Falls,  and  his  life  was  the  usual 
one  of  a  boy  living  in  a  city  of  moderate  size.  He  then  obtained  a  posi- 
tion in  the  Art  Tile  Factory,  where  he  learned  to  make  and  decorate  tiles, 
and  followed  this  occupation  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He 
then  organized  and  built  the  White  Steam  Laundry,  operating  this  in 
Beaver  Falls,  with  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  custom  for  a  period 
of  twelve  years.  The  public  offices  held  by  his  father  had  always  been  of 
the  greatest  interest  to  Mr.  White,  and  he  had  frequently  assisted  him  in 
some  of  his  detective  work,  showing  marked  ability  along  these  lines.  In 
1908  he  was  appointed  as  a  policeman  at  Woodlawn,  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  holding  that  position  for  one  and  one-half  years  was  appointed,  in 
1910,  a  patrolman  on  the  Beaver  Falls  police  force.  His  work  in  this 
capacity  was  of  a  very  efficient  character,  and  in  the  spring  of  1913  he  was 
advanced  to  the  rank  of  a  lieutenant,  an  office  he  is  filling  very  capably 
at  the  present  time.  He  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  whatever  concerns  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  White  married,  September  15,  1893,  Ella  Blanch  Devine,  born 
in  Pittsburgh,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  Devine,  the  former  now 
living  in  Beaver  Falls.  Henry  Devine  was  a  shovel  maker,  and  for  thirty 
years  was  in  the  employ  of  the  H.  Myers  Shovel  Works,  in  Beaver  Falls; 
he  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  had  children:  Medora; 
Howard;  a  child  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  William;  Minnie; 
Janet. 


The  branch  of  the  Weir  family  treated  of  in  this  review,  while 
WEIR    only  in  the  United  States  a  few  generations,  has  amply  proved 

its  worth  to  the  country  both  in  public  and  in  private  life. 
(I)  James  K.  Weir,  the  first  of  the  family  to  become  a  resident  of 
this  country,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  died  in  1866  while  living  in  New 
Galilee,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  taken  to  Scotland  when 
two  years  of  age  and  educated  there,  and  was  still  very  young  when  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States.  He  settled  at  New  Galilee,  and  was  a 
traveling  salesman  for  a  number  of  years.  During  the  Civil  War  he  served 
as  postmaster  of  New  Galilee.  Mr.  Weir  married  Margaret  J.  Johnston, 
born  in  Middletown,  Ohio,  November  17,  1833,  and  there  the  marriage 
took  place.  Her  parents  were  Germans  and  early  settlers  in  Middletown, 
where  they  died.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Weir,  Mrs.  Weir  married  (sec- 
ond) Thomas  M.  Miller,  lived  in  succession  in  Enon  Valley,  New  Galilee 


740  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  Homewood,  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  son,  Charles  David,  in  Beaver 
Falls,  in  Novernber,  1907.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weir  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  was  a  Democrat.  They  had  chil- 
dren: Thomas  A.,  deceased;  William  Ashford,  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years;  Charles  David,  of  further  mention.  By  the  second  marriage  there 
were :  Sarah  E.,  married  Lucien  Beaner  and  died  in  Beaver  Falls ;  Harriet 
Luella,  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen. 

(II)  Charles  David  Weir,  son  of  James  K.  and  Margaret  J.  (Johnston) 
Weir,  was  born  in  New  Galilee,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  August 
26,  1861.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Enon 
and  New  Castle,  and  attended  the  high  school  in  New  Castle.  He  then 
took  up  the  study  of  telegraphy  and  upon  its  completion  entered  the 
service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  with  whom  he  remained 
nine  years.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he  opened  a  restaurant  at  the  corner 
of  Eleventh  street  and  Seventh  avenue,  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania, 
which  he  conducted  for  twenty  years.  He  had  a  substantial  buildmg 
erected,  twenty-two  by  one  hundred  feet,  and  this  was  equipped  in  the 
most  modern  manner.  The  cuisine  of  this  establishment  was  of  a  superior 
character  and  the  service  of  most  excellent  quality.  It  enjoyed  a  large  patron- 
age and  was  a  most  successful  undertaking.  In  August,  191 1,  Mr.  Weir  entered 
the  service  of  the  Pinkerton  Tobacco  Company,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  and 
retains  this  position  up  to  the  present  time.  His  territory  covers  western 
Pennsylvania  and  southern  Ohio,  comprising  twenty-three  counties  al- 
together. Mr.  Weir  has  always  been  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  served  three  terms  as  auditor  of  Beaver  Falls.  He  resides 
at  No.  720  Thirty-fourth  street,  Beaver  Falls,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  fraternal  membership 
is  with  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks. 

Mr.  Weir  married,  in  September,  1892,  Mary  E.  Hickman,  born  in 
Beaver  Falls,  daughter  of  Jerry  and  Catherine  (Loomis)  Hickman,  the 
former  born  in  Ohio,  the  latter  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  They 
settled  in  Beaver  Falls,  where  he  was  a  blacksmith  and  stationary  en- 
gineer, and  died  in  1876,  the  mother  being  still  living.  The  paternal 
grandparents  of  Mrs.  Weir  were  Levi  and  Alice  Ann  (Webster)  Hick- 
man, residents  of  Ohio.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Weir  were 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Sweezy)  Loomis,  old  residents  of  Beaver  county, 
who  came  there  from  eastern  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a 
paper  manufacturer,  and  came  originally  from  Boston,  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Weir  have  had  children:  Willard  J.,  a  student  in  Beaver  Falls 
high  school;  Clare  D. ;  Helen  T.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Fay  I. 


The  early  descent  of  the  Russells  and  their  derivation  from 

RUSSELL    the   Du   Rozels,   of    Normandy,   has   been   traced   by   Mr. 

Wiflfen,  in  his  "Historical  Memoirs  of  the  House  of  Rus- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  741 

sell."  The  name  comes  from  one  of  the  fiefs  which  the  first  Christian 
of  that  surname  possessed,  anterior  to  the  Conquest  of  England,  in  Lower 
Normany,  in  the  ancient  barony  of  Briquebec.  Among  the  early  settlers 
of  New  England  and  Virginia  were  many  bearing  the  name  of  Russell, 
but  from  what  part  of  England  they  came,  or  to  what  particular  family 
they  belong,  there  is  no  reliable  record. 

(I)  Of  the  branch  herein  recorded,  there  is  no  authentic  information 
dating  back  further  than  William  Russell,  one  of  the  earliest  residents  of 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  lived  and  died  on  a  farm  near  Smiths 
Ferry.  He  was  quiet  and  unostentious  in  his  manner  of  life,  shunning  the 
public  eye,  married  and  became  the  father  of  eight  children :  James ; 
Hugh,  of  whom  futher;  William;  John;  Calvin;  Susan,  married  Daniel 
Braden,  and  died  in  Indiana;  Sarah  Ann,  married  David  Calhoun,  and  died 

in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  Eliza,  married Childs,  and  died  in  the 

west. 

(II)  Hugh  Russell,  son  of  William  Russell,  was  bom  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1810,  died  there  in  1895.  He  followed  the  occupation 
of  his  father,  that  of  farmer,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  Beaver  county. 
Before  the  dawn  of  the  era  that  brought  us  the  forefather  of  our  modern 
express  he  was  a  stage  driver,  his  route  being  from  Bridgewater,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  Lisbon,  Ohio.  A  Democrat  in  politics  he  was  an  earnest 
worker  for  the  interests  of  that  party  in  local  affairs.  He  married  Nancy, 
born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  September,  1824,  died  there  in 
November.  1885,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca  (Phillis)  Campbell. 
Samuel  Campbell  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  came  to  the  United  States 
prior  to  the  War  of  1812-14  in  which  he  participated  as  a  private  in  the 
American  army,  receiving  a  severe  wound  in  the  thigh.  He  married  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Charles  Phillis.  The  latter  in  1792,  settled  on  Phillis  Island, 
in  the  Ohio  river.  He  built  a  block  house  and  a  distillery  on  the  mainland, 
the  site  now  a  part  of  the  James  Bray  farm.  He  was  a  large  land  owner 
and  a  man  of  importance  in  the  community.  He  died  while  on  a  trip  to 
Ohio,  the  circumstances  attending  his  death  giving  rise  to  the  suspicion 
that  it  had  not  occurred  from  natural  causes.  Samuel  Campbell  and  Re- 
becca, his  wife,  lived  on  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  inherited  from  her  father, 
where  she  died  in  1862.  His  death  took  place  in  1874,  when  he  was  nearly 
ninety  years  of  age.  Children  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca  (Phillis)  Campbell: 
1.  Alfred,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  2.  Harrison,  died  in 
Louisiana.  3.  Charles,  died  when  eight  years  of  age.  4.  Elizabeth,  married 
Joseph  Ammon,  both  deceased.  5.  Rebecca,  married  Thomas  Russell,  both 
deceased.  6.  Nancy,  of  previous  mention,  married  Hugh  Russell.  Children 
of  Hugh  and  Nancy  (Campbell)  Russell:  i.  Sarah  Ann,  born  1842;  mar- 
ried William  Metzgar;  lives  in  Wellsville,  Ohio;  child  living,  George  T.  2. 
Rebecca,  born  1844;  lives  with  her  brother,  Samuel  Charles,  in  Industry. 
3.  John  Alfred,  a  farmer  of  Industry  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania; married  Amelia  S.  Gebhart;  five  children:     Ford  R.,  married  Ola 


■42 


PENNSYLVANIA 


Althar ;  Bessie  L.,  deceased ;  Etta  May,  deceased ;  Charles  H.,  married 
Martha  Cristler  and  they  have  one  child,  Helen  Elizabeth;  Samuel  C.  4. 
Samuel  Charles,  of  whom  further.  5.  James  W.,  born  1858,  died  aged 
three  years. 

(Ill)  Samuel  Charles  Russell,  second  son  and  fourth  child  of  Hugh  and 
Nancy  (Campbell)  Russell,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July 
2,  1849.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  spent  his  early  life  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  chose  agriculture  as  his  life  occupation,  and  in  1882 
purchased  a  farm  of  sixty-three  acres  in  Industry  township,  and  has  there 
ever  since  resided.  He  has  erected  a  comfortable  dwelling  thereon  and 
there  he  and  his  sister,  Rebecca,  make  their  home,  Mr.  Russell  never  having 
married.  He  confines  his  operations  to  general  farming,  and  is  known 
throughout  the  locality  for  his  uniform  success  in  his  farming.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  held  all  the  township  offices,  at  the  present 
time  serving  his  fourth  term  as  supervisor,  mute  testimony  to  the  regard 
in  which  he  is  held  by  his  neighbors. 


The  greater  number  of  those  bearing  the  name  of  Russell 
RUSSELL    in  this  country  trace  their  descent  to  Sir  John  Russell  of 

England.  This  is  probably  the  case  with  the  branch  under 
review  in  this  sketch,  although  the  connection  cannot  at  the  present  time 
be  established  with  certainty.  James  Russell  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  near  the  North  Star  Post  Office,  and  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  farmers  of  that  section.    He  married  Rachel ,  and  had  children. 

(II)  James  (2)  Russell,  son  of  James  (i)  and  Rachel  Russell,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
school.  He  assisted  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm  of  fifteen  acres 
in  Washington  county  until  1866,  when  he  removed  to  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  located  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-four 
acres  in  Independence  township,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son. 
He  repaired  and  remodeled  the  house  which  was  on  this  land,  and  erected 
a  number  of  smaller  buildings.  He  was  an  active  supporter  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Mr.  Russell  married  Mary  C.  Dunlap,  also  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  whose  parents  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  region. 
They  had  children:  Daniel,  died  in  infancy;  James  Finley,  died  about  1908; 
Franklin,  see  forward;  William,  died  at  about  two  years  of  age. 

(III)  Franklin  Russell,  only  surviving  son  and  child  of  James  (2) 
and  Mary  C.  (Dunlap)  Russell,  was  bom  in  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1863.  He  was  but  three  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  his  school  education  was  ac- 
quired. In  association  with  his  father  he  took  up  farming  for  some  time, 
then  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Midway  and  McKees  Rocks.  With 
this  he  combined  horse  dealing,  and  he  has  become  an  expert  judge  of 
horseflesh.  About  1909  he  returned  to  his  farm,  but  has  utilized  it  princi- 
pally for  the  breeding  of  blooded  horses  and  fine  breeds  of  Holstein  and 


BEAVER    COUNTY  743 

Jersey  cattle.  He  is  now  making  a  specialty  of  breeding  fine  driving 
horses,  and  altogether  utilizes  four  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  always  given  it  his  earnest 
support,  but  has  never  desired  to  hold  public  office.  His  religious  affiliations 
are  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Russell  married  Nancy  J.,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Figley,  and  has  had  the  following  named  children :  Perry  M., 
married  Blanche  Davison,  two  children,  Jeneveive  and  Carmaleta;  James 
M.,  married  Ethel  Schoaler,  two  children,  Ruth  and  Eugene ;  Martha  Olive, 
married  Earle  McNamee,  two  children,  Etta  Jane  and  Dorothy;  Earl  D. ; 
Jacob. 


Jacob  Stoffel,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Ambridge,  Pennsyl- 
STOFFEL  vania,  is  of  German-American  ancestry,  his  father  having 
been  a  native  of  Germany,  where  he  was  born,  and  his 
mother  a  native  of  Harmony,  Pennsylvania.  John  Stoffel,  the  father,  was 
not  only  born  in  Germany,  but  was  reared  and  educated  and  spent  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  his  life  in  that  country.  He  lived  upon  the  river 
Rhine  and  there  married  his  first  wife,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
Christina  and  Michael,  the  former  now  Mrs.  Wiffer,  of  Ohio,  the  latter 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoffel  came  to  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
early  days,  and  later  removed  to  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  where  they  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  where  Mrs.  Stoffel  died.  Mr.  Stoffel  later  met  Marie 
Miller,  of  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  her  parents  were  early  settlers  in 
that  region,  and  to  her  he  was  married  in  Pittsburgh.  By  his  second  wife, 
Mr.  Stoffel  had  seven  children,  Margaret,  John,  Frederick,  Henry,  Jacob, 
George,  Marie. 

Jacob  Stoffel  was  born  May  23,  1856,  in  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
there  reared  up  to  his  sixth  year,  when  his  family  removed  to  Pittsburgh, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  first  ward  school.  Upon  the  com- 
pletion of  his  education,  he  entered  a  mercantile  business,  and  on  September 
23,  1875,  removed  to  old  Economy,  Pennsylvania,  where,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  years  spent  in  the  west,  he  made  his  home  until  the  year  1904. 
While  a  resident  of  this  town,  he  engaged  in  the  business  of  general  con- 
tracting, and  built  up  for  himself  a  successful  business.  In  1904  he  re- 
moved to  Ambridge,  and  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation  was  elected  chief 
of  police,  which  position  he  has  since  held.  He  has  also  been  street  com- 
missioner for  the  past  two  years.  Mr.  Stoffel's  residence  is  at  No.  161 3 
Church  street,  Ambridge,  Pennsylvania.  He  occupies  an  important  position 
among  the  citizens  of  Ambridge  and  is  active  in  public  affairs.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics. 

Mr.  Stoffel  married,  1881,  Margaret  Strobel,  of  Marshall  township, 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  by  her  has  had  children,  as  follows: 
Nicholas,  Hattie,  Mary  Elnora,  deceased;  Lottie,  deceased;  Anna,  Myrtle, 
Clifford,  deceased;  Louis.  Mr.  Stoffel  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 


744 


PENNSYLVANIA 


This  is  an  old  Pennsylvania   family  of  Holland  descent, 
SHAFFER    but  as  ancestral  records   have  disappeared   in  the  course 
of  time  it  is  a  matter  of  considerable  difficulty  to  trace  the 
early  history. 

(I)  Shaffer  -was  a  native  of  Holland  and  emigrated  to  America 

at  an  early  date.  It  is  known  that  he  settled  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  all  further  information  is  lacking. 

(II)  James  Shaffer,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  1804.  He  mar- 
ried Magdalene  Kligensmith,  of  German  descent. 

(III)  William  Shaffer,  son  of  James  and  Magdalene  (Klingensmith) 
Shaffer,  lived  in  various  counties  in  Pennsylvania.  He  came  from 
Westmoreland  county  in  1836,  located  in  Lawrence  county,  then  a 
part  of  Beaver  county,  lived  for  a  time  in  Venango  county,  then 
returned     to  Lawrence    county,    where    his    death    occurred.      He    was 

a  farmer  by  occupation.    He  married  Hannah ,  and  they  had  twelve 

children.    Five  of  their  sons — William  K.,  Abraham,  Jacob,  John  and , 

were  in  active  service  during  the  Civil  War,  and  Jacob  and  Abraham  also 
served  during  the  Mexican  War.  John  Shaffer  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg. 

(IV)  William  K.  Shaffer,  son  of  William  and  Hannah  Shaffer,  was 
bom  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  19,  1838,  died  June  i,  1911. 
His  education  was  a  very  limited  one,  being  confined  to  attendance  at 
school  during  a  period  of  four  months.  By  his  own  efforts,  however,  in 
his  spare  moments,  all  of  which  he  devoted  to  study,  he  acquired  sufficient 
knowledge  to  enable  him  to  become  a  teacher  in  tlie  public  school,  in  which 
occupation  he  was  engaged  for  many  years.  Intensely  patriotic,  as  was 
the  entire  family,  he  enlisted  as  a  private,  September  30,  1861,  being  as- 
signed to  the  Eleventh  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Cavalry.  This 
regiment  was  engaged  in  scout  duty  until  the  last  year  of  the  war,  during 
which  it  participated  in  all  the  battles  which  took  place  in  the  vicinity  of 
Petersburg.  Mr.  Shaffer  witnessed  the  memorable  fight  between  the  "Moni- 
tor" and  the  "Merrimac."  The  regiment  of  which  he  was  a  member  lost 
more  men  then  any  other  cavalry  regiment  in  the  service,  and  he  was 
honorably  discharged,  August  13,  1865,  with  the  rank  of  sergeant.  Upon 
the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Shaffer  returned  to  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  resumed  his  occupations  of  teaching  and  farming,  and  later  re- 
moved to  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  1889  he  removed  to  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  located  on  a  farm  back  of  Beaver  Falls, 
and  in  1895  settled  at  Economy,  Pennsylvania.  While  living  in  Venango 
township,  Mr.  Shaffer  served  as  constable  of  that  section,  and  as  commis- 
sioner of  Venanga  county,  and  he  was  serving  his  second  term  as  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Economy  when  he  died.  He  and  his  family  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Shaffer  married,  August  19,  1858, 
Sophronia  Parker,  born  in  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  19,  1848. 
They  had  children:    Albert;  Scott;  Calvin;  Frank;  Lorenzo  Dow,  of  fur- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  745 

ther  mention;  Lemuel;  Juliet,  married Nicholas;  Myrtle,  married 

Straub;  Prinley;  Clara. 

William  Parker,  grandfather  of  Mrs.   Shaffer,   lived  many  years  in 

Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  married  Rebecca ,  virho  v^fas  born 

in  Scotland.  Their  son,  also  William  Parker,  father  of  Mrs.  Shaffer,  was 
born  in  1800,  died  in  1864.  He  was  master  of  a  variety  of  occupations, 
being  a  cooper,  carpenter,  blacksmith  and  shoemaker.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  Elizabeth  Blosser,  a  widow,  and  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Straw.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Straw  were  Pennsylvania  Dutch,  and 
came  across  the  Allegheny  mountains  by  wagon,  and  were  the  owners  of  a 
large  farm.  William  Parker  and  his  first  wife  and  their  two  eldest  children 
were  going  by  boat  to  Cincinnati.  They  had  just  seated  themselves  for 
a  meal,  and  he  had  placed  his  money  at  the  side  of  his  plate,  when  the  boiler 
of  the  ship  blew  up,  and  he  never  saw  wife,  children  or  money  again. 
He  then  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  there  married  a  second  time.  He 
bought  a  farm  in  Venango  county  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  By  his 
first  marriage  he  had  three  children:  Elizabeth  (Straw-Blosser)  Parker, 
died  in  1882. 

(V)  Lorenzo  Dow  Shaffer,  son  of  William  K.  and  Sophronia  (Par- 
ker) Shaffer,  was  born  in  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  18,  1869.  At 
an  early  age  he  was  obliged  to  assist  in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and  this 
left  him  but  little  time  to  acquire  a  school  education.  When  he  was  but 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  was  already  doing  a  man's  work  on  the  farm 
and  assuming  a  man's  responsibilities.  When  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  the  entire  family  removed  to  Oil  City,  Venango  county, 
and  there  for  a  period  of  one  year  he  worked  as  a  gardener.  The  family 
having  settled  at  Sugar  Creek,  Ohio,  the  father  established  himself  there  in 
the  grocery  business,  and  there  Lorenzo  Dow  assisted  him  for  a  time.  He 
then  went  to  the  oil  fields  of  Ohio  with  his  brother  Albert,  and  they  were 
engaged  in  constructing  derricks  for  one  year.  He  then  returned  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  has  been  identified  as  a  contractor  in  the  same  line,  of 
business  since  that  time.  His  work  has  been  all  around  the  city  of  Pittsburgh, 
and  he  has  also  been  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent  in  building  houses, 
in  which  he  has  also  been  successful. 

Mr.  Shaffer  married,  August  4,  1890,  Anna  McDonald,  and  they  have 
children:  George,  Grace,  William,  Bernard,  Irene.  Mr.  Shaffer  is  a 
staunch  supporter  of  the  Prohibition  party,  and  he  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Missionary  Alliance  Church. 


The  Wilson  family  of  Beaver  county,  in  both  generations 
WILSON     that  have  lived  there,  have  been  tillers  of  the  soil.     George 

Wilson,  a  native  of  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  was  a  farmer 
in  his  home  country,  and  on  coming  to  the  United  States,  about  1820, 
made  that  his  occupation.  Upon  coming  to  Beaver  county,  he  visited  at 
the  home  of  a  friend,  on  the  Ohio  river  near  Industry,  until  he  could  find 


746  PENNSYLVANIA 

a  suitable  location  on  which  to  make  his  home.  This  spot  he  selected  on 
the  Tuscarroras  road,  but  soon  after  settling  there  sold  his  property  and 
purchased  two  hundred  acres  in  Industry  township.  This  was  an  ideal 
site  for  a  home,  situated  in  a  sheltered  ravine,  close  to  a  spring.  He  built 
a  temporary  log  cabin  residence,  later  replacing  it  with  one  of  hewn  logs, 
on  the  site  of  the  present  Wilson  home.  George  Wilson  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  although  he  performed  with  punctilious 
care  the  duties  of  a  good  citizen,  he  always  preferred  to  pay  close  atten- 
tion to  his  home  affairs  and  to  his  family  rather  than  to  take  part  in  public 
or  political  activity. 

He  married  Elizabeth  Lindsey,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  in  which 
country  they  met  and  were  married.  Children  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
Wilson:  i.  Thomas,  of  whom  further.  2.  Catherine,  married  William 
Humphrey;  both  died  in  Ohio.  3.  John,  at  one  time  county  commissioner, 
died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Industry  township.  4.  Margaret,  married 
William  Sutherland;  both  died  in  Ohio.  5.  James,  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  married  Nancy  White;  died  near  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.    6.  George,  a  plasterer,  died  in  Beaver  county. 

(II)  Thomas  Wilson,  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Lindsey)  Wilson, 
was  born  in  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  in  181 1.  After  attending  the 
public  schools,  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm  and  in  a  few  years  relieved 
his  father  of  the  entire  responsibility  of  its  management.  In  addition  to 
conducting  operations  on  the  home  farm  he  purchased  an  adjoining  tract 
and  added  to  it  a  portion  of  the  homestead  as  his  personal  property. 
Shortly  after  he  purchased  sixty  acres  more  of  the  original  property  and 
was  then  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  of  the  best  farm 
land  in  the  region.  This  he  cultivated  with  skill  gained  in  the  school  of 
experience,  and  in  the  production  of  paying  crops  was  very  successful, 
his  well  directed  and  untiring  efforts  receiving  a  bountiful  reward.  One 
of  the  improvements  to  the  property  for  which  he  was  responsible  was  the 
erection  of  a  substantial  frame  dwelling  on  the  site  formerly  occupied  by 
the  structure  built  of  logs.  Nor  was  he  only  prominent  in  the  community 
because  of  his  success  in  agricultural  operations,  for  in  all  the  public 
aflfairs  of  the  township  he  was  a  leading  spirit.  As  a  Republican  he  held 
the  offices  of  supervisor  and  school  director,  and  was  intimately  connected 
with  all  projects  designed  for  the  advancement  of  the  township's  interest. 
He  was  held  in  respectful  regard  by  his  fellow  citizens  as  a  man  of  unsel- 
fishness of  purpose  and  openness  of  character,  unassuming  and  modest, 
but  of  sterling  worth  and  merit.  In  his  home  relations  the  true  warmth  and 
depth  of  his  nature  was  keenly  seen  and  felt.  Loving  and  considerate  as  a 
husband,  as  a  father  he  was  affectionate  and  kind,  honored,  revered  and 
loved  with  the  purest  of  affection  by  all  of  his  family.  In  them  was  his 
delight  and  pleasure  and  he  could  feel  no  keener  joy  than  that  which  pos- 
sessed him  at  the  sight  of  their  happiness.  With  his  wife  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


-Seance  ^."^^^dic 


BEAVER   COUNTY  747 

He  married  Jane  Burnside,  a  native  of  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland, 
whence  her  parents,  Thomas  and  Margaret  Burnside,  came  to  the  United 
States,  settHng  in  Ohio.  Children  of  Thomas  and  Jane  Wilson:  i.  George 
Lindsey,  a  farmer  of  Beaver  county,  died  in  1901,  unmarried.  2.  Margaret 
Christey,  married  Charles  Bowers,  deceased;  lives  on  the  homestead  in 
Industry  township  with  her  sister  Eliza;  she  is  the  mother  of  two  children: 
Thomas  Wilson  and  Jane  Burnside.  3.  John  Burnside,  lives  retired  in  Los 
Angeles,  California;  married  Matilda  Aiken  and  has  children,  Mary  E., 
Genevieve,  Royal.  4.  Eliza,  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  5.  An  infant, 
deceased. 

The  oldest  and  the  youngest  of  the  children  of  Thomas  and  Jane 
(Burnside)  Wilson,  George  and  Eliza,  never  married,  but  after  the  death 
of  their  father  continued  their  residence  on  the  home  farm  until  the  death 
of  the  former  in  1901.  The  eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Wilson,  Margaret 
C,  since  becoming  a  widow,  has  made  her  home  with  her  sister,  Eliza. 
Always  the  best  companions  in  their  youth,  the  reunion  is  indeed  a  happy 
one  and  full  of  blessing  to  both,  their  natures  being  most  congenial. 


The  Wilson  family  is  of  that  splendid  Scotch-Irish  stock 
WILSON  which  has  left  indelible  marks  upon  American  history.  Of 
this  race  were  a  great  mass  of  the  Revolutionary  soldiers 
of  Pennsylvania  known  as  "the  backbone  of  Washington's  army,"  and  also 
founders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  and  of  that  great  in- 
stitution of  learning  known  as  Princeton  University.  In  the  agricultural 
interests  of  the  country  they  have  held  a  pre-eminent  place,  and  their  in- 
fluence has  been  felt  throughout  the  country. 

(I)  John  Wilson  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  a  farmer.  Late[  .in  life  he  removed  to 
Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  making  his  home  near  Little  Lancaster, 
and  there  his  death  occurred.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  Eliza  Martin,  whose  father,  Joseph 
Martin,  was  at  one  time  the  owner  of  an  enormous  estate  in  South  Beaver 
township.  They  had  children:  Russell,  see  forward;  Horace,  a  farmer  in 
Pulaski  township;  Add,  who  was  a  soldier  during  the  Civil  War,  resides 
in  California;  John,  also  a  soldier  died  on  his  way  to  his  home  from  the 
battlefield. 

(II)  Russell  Wilson,  son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Martin)  Wilson,  was 
born  in  North  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  his  marriage  settled  on  a  farm  in  South  Beaver  township.  He  bought 
a  farm  of  thirty  acres,  on  which  he  died  in  April,  1909.  He  married  Mary 
Jane,  bom  in  May,  1841,  daughter  of  Richmond  and  Mary  (Fink)  Hart, 
and  she  now  lives  with  her  son,  Richard  Hart  Wilson.  Richmond  Hart  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  in  North  Sewickley  township,  where  he  was  a 
land  owner  and  a  carpenter,  and  where  he  died.  He  married  Mary  Fink, 
who  died  in  West  Virginia,  where  she  was  living  with  one  of  her  sons. 


748  PENNSYLVANIA 

They  had  children :  Mary  Jane,  married  Russell  Wilson,  see  above ;  Sarah, 
married  Samuel  Boots,  and  lives  in  North  Sewickley  township;  Annie, 
married  Amos  Boots,  and  also  lives  in  North  Sewickley  township;  John, 
who  died  in  early  boyhood;  Richard,  a  farmer  in  Indiana;  James,  married 
Annie  Whisler  and  lives  in  North  Sewickley  township;  Edward,  a  black- 
smith, lives  in  West  Virginia.  Russell  and  Mary  Jane  (Hart)  Wilson 
had  children:  Mary,  married  Willis  Reed  and  lives  in  Beaver  Falls;  John, 
unmarried,  lives  in  Darlington,  Pennsylvania;  Eliza,  widow  of  John  Allen, 
lives  in  South  Beaver  township;  Lillian,  unmarried;  Richard  Hart,  see 
forward;  Add,  died  at  home  after  his  return  from  the  Philippine  Islands 
during  the  Spanish- American  War;  Daisy,  married  Will  Peterson,  and 
lives  in  McKeesport;  Willard,  lives  in  South  Beaver  township;  James, 
died  unmarried,  in  1893. 

(Ill)  Richard  Hart  Wilson,  son  of  Russell  and  Mary  Jane  (Hart) 
Wilson,  was  born  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  14,  1875.  He  attended  the  public  schools,  where  he  acquired  an 
excellent  education,  and  upon  its  completion  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Standard  Guage  Steel  Company,  of  Beaver  Falls,  with  whom  he  remained 
thirteen  years.  In  1908  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  four 
acres,  near  the  homestead  of  his  father,  and  erected  a  number  of  substan- 
tial outbuildings  upon  it  and  made  numerous  other  improvements.  He 
cultivates  general  produce  and  has  been  very  successful  in  this  enterprise. 
His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  has  served 
several  years  as  school  director.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  of  the  Knights  of  Malta.  Mr.  Wilson  married,  March  12, 
1914,  Fannie  B.  Jackson,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Craft)  Jack- 
son, who  live  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 


The  Wilson  family  is  an  ancient  one  in  Pennsylvania  and 
WILSON     the  line  herein  traced  has  added  to  its  historical  and  genea- 
logical  interest   by   alliances   with   the   Garrett  and    Beatty 
families. 

(I)  The  first  of  this  branch  of  whom  there  is  definite  and  authentic 
record  is  James  Wilson,  born  in  1758,  died  in  1792,  who  came  from 
Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1781.  By  his  will  be  left  to  his  wife,  Margaret,  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
adjoining  the  borough  of  Washington  to  be  held  in  trust  until  his  youngest 
son,  James  (2),  should  become  of  age,  when  it  should  be  divided  among 
his  sons,  James,  Thomas,  John. 

(II)  James  (2)  Wilson,  son  of  James  (i)  and  Margaret  Wilson,  was 
born  about  1780.  He  learned  the  trade  of  coppersmith  and  followed  that 
occupation  in  Washington  county  until  1813,  when  he  moved  to  Beaver 
county.  He  made  his  home  in  South  Beaver  township,  there  purchased 
land  and  at  his  death  was  a  farmer  on  a  generous  scale  and  a  large  land 
owner. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  749 

(III)  George  Wilson,  son  of  James  (2)  Wilson,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1809,  died  in  South  Beaver  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  As  a  child  of  three  he  was  brought  to 
Beaver  county  by  his  parents  and  one  of  his  earliest  recollections  was  of  the 
soldiers  recruited  in  the  vicinity  returning  from  the  War  of  1812-14.  Here 
his  entire  life  was  spent  as  a  farmer,  and  at  his  death  he  owned  three 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  South  Beaver  and  Ohio  townships.  His  last 
home,  a  frame  structure  erected  in  1861,  is  still  standing,  in  good  condition, 
and  is  used  as  a  residence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Whig  party  for  many 
years,  and  at  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party  transferred  his  al- 
legiance thereto.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  living  useful  and  quiet  Christian  lives.  He  married  Par- 
melia  McMillan.  Children:  i.  Rebecca,  died  unmarried.  2.  James  Martin, 
died  in  Warren,  Ohio,  aged  sixty-five  years.  3.  John  Arbuckle,  died 
aged  twenty-four  years.  4.  George  Ralston,  of  whom  further.  5.  Zimri 
W.,  died  in  East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  6.  Mary  S.,  for  many  years  a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools.  7.  Eliza  Jane,  died  in  infancy.  8.  Annie  E.,  deceased, 
married  J.  L.  Elliott.  9.  Joseph  M.,  died  in  1910.  10.  Cordelia  Florence, 
married  Miles  Deane,  and  lives  in  East  Palestine,  Ohio. 

(IV)  George  Ralston  Wilson,  third  child  and  second  son  of  George 
and  Parmelia  (McMillan)  Wilson,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, June  20,  1840,  died  in  Salem,  Ohio,  November  5,  1902.  He  grew 
to  man's  estate  in  Beaver  county,  attending  the  public  schools,  later  fol- 
lowing the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  was  there  married  on  December  15, 
1868,  afterward  moving  to  Salem,  Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred.  He 
was  an  energetic  and  hardworking  farmer  and  in  his  agricultural  pursuits 
met  with  gratifying  and  profitable  success.  He  was  a  Republican  in  political 
sympathies,  and  in  religious  belief  was  a  Presbyterian,  to  which  church 
both  he  and  his  wife  belonged.  He  married  Victoria  Beatty,  born  October 
31,  1851,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  10,  1893,  daughter 
of  Rev.  James  and  Elizabeth  Ann  Rose  (Garrett)  Beatty.  The  Beatty 
family's  original  American  home  was  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  where 
William  Beatty  settled.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  a  large  holder 
of  land,  which  many  tenants  cultivated,  according  to  the  system  then  in 
vogue  in  that  country.  Becoming  involved  in  difficulties  with  the  English 
crown,  his  estate  was  confiscated  and  a  price  set  upon  his  head  for  his 
capture.  Forced  into  hiding,  where  he  was  protected  by  the  good  offices  of 
his  many  friends,  a  year  later  he  contrived  to  obtain  passage  on  an  Amer- 
ican-bound vessel.  Upon  his  arrival  he  continued  westward  until  he  arrived 
in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  where  he  invested  his  entire  remaining  funds 
in  farm  land.  Here  he  married  and  his  son.  Rev.  James  Beatty,  was  born. 
James,  in  his  youth,  voiced  a  desire  to  enter  the  ministry  and  was  educated 
to  that  end,  graduating  from  Allegheny  College  and  teaching  school  for  a 
few  years  before  being  ordained.  After  his  ordination  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  ministry  his  first  charge  was  in  Ohio,  but  he  soon  accepted  a 


750 


PENNSYLVANIA 


call  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  for  many  years  wras  a  familiar 
and  conspicuous  figure  in  the  work  of  that  denomination  in  the  county. 
Although  a  sincere,  devout  and  faithful  teacher  of  the  Word  he  did  not 
confine  his  good  works  strictly  to  the  pulpit,  but  believing  that  there  was 
as  wide  a  field  and  one  as  ripe  for  the  harvest  in  public  life,  as  in  the 
church,  gave  much  of  his  time  and  attention  to  public  and  political  affairs. 
A  forceful  and  convincing  speaker,  one  who  made  an  appeal  to  classes 
widely  separated,  he  wielded  a  vast  influence  throughout  the  locality,  where 
he  was  respected  for  the  manly  manner  in  which  he  met  everyday  issues 
in  person,  and  not  as  an  adviser  from  a  height  of  ecclesiastical  superiority. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Ann  Rose,  daughter  of  Isaac  Garrett,  a  member 
of  an  old  New  England  family  of  "Mayflower"  lineage.  Isaac  Garrett 
came  to  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  among  the  first  settlers  and  there  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  large  estate  and  the  possessor  of  a  considerable 
fortune,  all  of  which  was  swept  away  by  a  bank  failure  and  several  unwise 
business  ventures.  Children  of  Rev.  James  and  Elizabeth  Ann  Rose 
(Garret)  Beatty:  i.  Victoria,  of  previous  mention,  married  George  Ral- 
ston Wilson.  2.  Nettie,  married  H.  B.  Cowan,  a  resident  of  South  Beaver 
township.  3.  Leonidas,  died  in  infancy.  Children  of  George  Ralston  and 
Victoria  (Beatty)  Wilson:  Leonidas  L.,  of  whom  further;  Nettie 
Florence,  married  John  Carr. 

(V)  Leonidas  L.  Wilson,  eldest  child  and  only  son  of  George  Ralston 
and  Victoria  (Beatty)  Wilson,  was  born  in  South  Beaver  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  October  12,  1869.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
and  spent  his  youthful  life  on  his  farm,  when  a  young  man  learning  the 
baker's  trade.  This  he  followed  for  a  few  years  at  Wellsville,  Ohio, 
abandoning  it  to  engage  in  farming  operations.  This  he  only  continued 
for  a  short  time  and  then  accepted  a  position  as  general  agent  of  the 
Millson  Rendering  Company  of  Buffalo,  New  York.  The  next  thirteen 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  as  proprietor  of  a  livery  stable  at  East  Palestine, 
Ohio,  where  in  connection  with  the  general  routine  of  a  livery,  he  did  a 
great  deal  of  grade  and  excavation  contracting.  He  also  acquired  real 
estate  holdings  of  value  in  this  town,  still  retaining  title  to  several  proper- 
ties. On  October  31,  1912,  he  moved  to  his  present  home  in  the  newly 
platted  town  of  Midland,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  continues  in  the  con- 
tracting business,  on  a  larger  scale  than  heretofore,  employing  forty  men 
and  keeping  eleven  teams  in  constant  use.  His  judgment  in  moving  to  a 
town  then  in  the  first  stage  of  growth  and  as  yet  not  fully  developed  has 
been  proven  of  the  best,  as  he  has  been  awarded  the  contracts  for  many 
operations  as  the  limits  of  the  town  have  been  extended  to  accommodate  the 
increasing  population.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  affiliates 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Owls. 

He  married,  December  27,  1899,  Elizabeth  Ellen  Shasteen,  daughter 
of  Andrew  Jackson  and  Lucinda  (Wymer)  Shasteen,  of  Darlington,  Penn- 
sylvania. Children:  Lena  F.,  Glenn  L.,  Everett  D.,  Helen  E.,  George  E., 
Gladys  M. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  751 

i  Three  generations  of  this  family,  including  the  present,  have 

SEANOR    borne  the  given  name  John  G.,  the  first,  owning  Germany 
as  his  birthplace  and  coming  to  the  United  States  with  his 
five  sons.    He  located  at  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  became  pro- 
prietor of  a  hotel. 

(II)  John  G.  (2)  Seanor,  son  of  John  G.  (i)  Seanor,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1896.  He  was  educated  for  the  legal  profession  but  was  compelled  to 
abandon  his  intention  of  following  that  calling  by  failing  eyesight.  He 
then  devoted  his  attention  to  the  coal  industry,  engaging  in  business  at 
Penn  Station,  Pennsylvania.  He  forsook  this  occupation  to  begin  farming 
operations,  which  he  conducted  on  his  farm  in  Lawrence  county  until 
1874.  Although  continuing  in  the  same  line  of  activity,  in  this  year  he 
changed  his  residence  from  Lawrence  to  Beaver  county.  He  was  uniformly 
successful  in  his  agricultural  undertakings,  and  besides  the  prominence 
always  accorded  one  who  has  accomplished  something  well  he  held  an  im- 
portant place  among  his  fellowmen  because  of  his  activity  in  public  affairs. 
A  strong  Republican,  he  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  of  Lawrence 
county  by  Governor  Andrew  Curtin,  governor  of  Pennsylvania  at  the  time 
of  the  Civil  War.  John  G.  Seanor  married  Susan  Gasser;  children:  Eliz- 
abeth, Lottie,  Sallie,  Frank,  Katherine,  John  G.,  of  whom  further,  Harvey. 
(HI)  John  G.  (3)  Seanor,  son  of  John  G.  (2)  and  Susan  (Gasser) 
Seanor,  was  born  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  2,  1864.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Lawrence  and  Beaver  counties,  and  when  a 
young  man  learned  the  business  of  well  drilling  for  both  gas  and  oil.  This 
occupation  he  has  ever  since  followed  and  at  the  present  time  bears  a 
reputation  as  one  of  the  most  skillful  and  capable  drillers  in  western 
Pennsylvania.  As  the  discoveries  of  oil  and  gas  have  been  made  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  masters  of  his  craft  have  been  needed  to  open  the  way 
to  the  subterranean  flow,  and  in  the  pursuance  of  his  occupation  he  has 
drilled  wells  in  twenty-two  states  of  the  United  States  and  also  in  Canada 
and  Cuba.  He  has  prospered  in  his  business,  and  in  1912,  in  partnership 
with  J.  H.  Williamson,  he  purchased  property  on  Seventh  avenue  and 
there  erected  a  commodious  and  splendid  equipped  garage,  which  bus- 
iness showed  steady  growth  and  justified  the  application  of  the  term 
"success,"  becoming  a  lucrative  source  of  income.  He  disposed  of  his 
interest  in  the  garage,  August  i,  1913,  and  devotes  his  time  to  his  former 
occupation.  He  affiliates  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  Union 
Valley  Lodge,  No.  411,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  the  Lodge  of  Perfec- 
tion, of  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  the 
World. 

Mr.  Seanor  married  Belle,  daughter  of  Samuel  Blair,  of  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Children  of  John  G.  (3)  and  Belle  (Blair)  Seanor:  Luella, 
Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Dorothy,  Isabella,  John  G.  (4). 


752  PENNSYLVANIA 

The  family  bearing  this  name  has  been  distinguished  for  some 
ELZE    generations   for   the   number   of   its   members   who   have   been 
prominent  in  professional  work,  notably  in  the  profession  of 
music. 

(I)  William   Elze,   a   resident  of  Dessau,   Anhalt,   Germany,   was  a 

dean  of  a  college  there  for  many  years.     He  married  Elisa  and  they 

had   children:     Julius,   of   further   mention;   Karl,   a   Lutheran   minister; 

Guido,  a  director  and  noted  composer  of  music  in  Italy ; ,  a  well  known 

writer  and  translator;  Augusta,  Minerva  and  Celia,  all  deceased. 

(II)  Julius  Elze,  son  of  William  and  Elisa  Elze,  was  born  in  Oranien- 
baum,  Germany,  and  was  cabinet  minister  in  Anhalt.  He  married  Anna 
Werner,  born  in  Dessau,  Germany.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Karl  and 
Lena  (Gelbke)  Werner,  the  former,  who  was  born  at  Coswig,  holding 
office  as  a  director  of  public  safety  throughout  the  active  years  of  his 
life,  and  after  fifty  years'  service  he  was  pensioned  with  full  salary. 
They  had  children:  i.  Otto,  who  was  a  general  in  the  German  army, 
serving  in  the  wars  of  i860,  1866  and  1870-71 ;  at  the  battle  of  Spichem 
he  led  his  regiment  up  Spichern  Hill,  and  so  strenuously  was  he  engaged 
in  this  action  that  for  a  time  his  hearing  was  desroyed,  but  it  was  later 
restored  and  he  returned  to  military  duty.  2.  Karl,  was  an  extensive 
landed  proprietor,  his  land  being  rented  in  farms  to  tenants  who  cul- 
tivated it.  3.  Paul,  who  was  a  piano  manufacturer  at  Dresden,  Germany, 
and  was  manufacturer  to  the  court.  4.  Max,  a  wholesale  merchant  in 
Leipsic,  doing  an  international  business.  5.  and  6.  Elisa  and  Anna.  7. 
Charles  William  Julius,  of  further  mention. 

(III)  Charles  William  Julius  Elze,  son  of  Julius  and  Anna  (Werner) 
Elze,  was  born  in  Dessau,  Anhalt,  Germany,  May  22,  1859.  One  part  of 
his  education  was  acquired  in  the  schools  of  his  birthplace,  where  he  also 
took  a  special  course  in  music,  and  he  then  spent  two  years  in  Leipsic,  where 
he  completed  his  musical  education.  While  in  Leipsic  he  was  engaged  in 
business  with  his  uncle.  Max  Werner.  He  served  one  year  in  the  German 
army,  and  held  the  rank  of  lieutenant  in  the  Ninety-third  Regiment.  When 
he  was  about  twenty-seven  years  of  age  he  decided  to  come  to  America, 
and  upon  his  arrival  here,  located  in  the  City  of  New  York.  There  he 
devoted  his  entire  attention  to  music,  being  mainly  associated  with  operatic 
companies.  About  1888  he  removed  to  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  established  himself  in  the  piano  business,  in  the 
sale  of  which  he  has  been  eminently  successful.  He  handles  as  manufac- 
turer and  distributor  all  the  leading  makes  of  pianos  and  player-pianos,  also 
grafonolas  and  small  instruments;  his  place  of  business  is  at  No.  921 
Seventh  avenue,  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania.  He  erected  a  beautiful  and 
commodious  residence  for  himself  and  family  in  1895.  His  fraternal 
affiliations  are  with  the  Masonic  Order,  in  which  he  has  attained  the  thirty- 
second  degree.  Mr.  Elze  married,  in  1895,  Hattie  Hageman;  children: 
Frances,  Werner,  deceased. 


BEAVER   COUNTY  753 

The  name  of  Wallace  was  one  of  the  most  numerous 
WALLACE  among  the  immigrants  to  this  country  during  the  early 
days  of  settlement.  There  were  other  early  immigrants 
bearing  the  name  af  Wallis,  the  two  spellings  appearing  interchangeable, 
but  all  came  from  the  same  Scotch  ancestry.  From  Scotland  they  migrated 
to  Ireland,  founding  the  town  of  Londonderry,  there  being  no  less  than 
four  of  this  name  in  the  enterprise.  They  have  been  distinguished  in  the 
old  country  and  the  new  by  their  sterling  worth  and  their  successful  bus- 
iness careers. 

(I)  Patrick  Wallace  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  about  1794  emigrated 
to  America.  He  located  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  farm  which 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  one  of  his  grandsons.  At  that  time  there  were 
no  railroads  in  this  country,  and  the  toilsome  and  tiresome  journey  across 

the  mountains  had  to  be  made  by  wagon.     He  married,  in  Ireland,  ■ 

McAdams,  also  a  native  of  that  country.  They  had  children:  Benjamin, 
a  farmer  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  John,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years;  David,  see  forward;  Sarah,  married  David  Luke,  and  lived  in 
Darlington  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania;  Jennie,  married  James 
Cook,  and  lived  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania. 

(II)  David  Wallace,  son  of  Patrick  and  (McAdams)  Wallace, 

was  born  in  Ireland  in  1786,  died  about  1870.  He  came  to  America  at 
the  same  time  as  his  father,  and  shared  the  same  hardships.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  given  a  grant  of  land  of  forty  acres, 
and  later  another  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  payment  for  his 
services.  He  was  not  naturalized  until  he  was  sixty  years  of  age.  They 
were  Covenanters  in  religion,  and  later  became  New  Side  Covenanters.  He 
married  Jane  Scott,  born  in   Ireland  in  1796,  died  in   1868,  daughter  of 

John   and   (Crawford)    Scott,   bom   and   married   in   Ireland,   who 

emigrated  to  Delaware,  and  remained  there  until  the  remainder  of  the  family 
came  there.  He  finally  removed  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  settled  on  a  farm,  and  his  remaining  years  were  spent  there.  They  had 
children:  William,  a  farmer  in  Chippewa  township,  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; James,  a  farmer  in  Big  Beaver  township;  John,  a  farmer  in 
Chippewa  township;  Jane,  married  David  Wallace,  as  above  mentioned. 
David  and  Jane  (Scott)  Wallace  had  children:  i.  John,  deceased;  was  a 
farmer  in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  2.  David,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty- four  years.  3.  William,  deceased ;  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  and  lived 
in  Darlington,  Pennsylvania.  4.  James,  deceased ;  was  a  school  teacher,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  5.  Robert,  deceased,  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade  and  the  proprietor  of  a  drug  store  in  Petersburg,  Ohio;  was  in 
a  company  of  Zouaves,  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  during  the  Civil  War,  and 
lost  a  leg  in  this  time  of  strife.  6.  Benjamin,  deceased;  was  a  carpenter  and 
lived  in  Beaver  Falls.  7.  Matthew,  deceased;  for  many  years  lived  with 
his  father  on  the  homestead  farm,  and  finally  died  on  a  farm  in  Mahoning 
county,  Ohio,  which  he  had  purchased  from  his  father.     8.   Samuel,  de- 


754  PENNSYLVANIA 

ceased ;  was  a  plasterer  and  also  gave  instruction  in  music ;  lived  in  Peters- 
burg, Ohio.  9.  George  Gillespie,  see  forward.  10.  A  son,  who  died  in 
infancy.  11.  Ellen,  deceased;  married  William  Young;  lived  in  Ohio.  12. 
Elizabeth,  died  unmarried  in  Darlington,  Pennsylvania.  13.  Margaret,  died 
unmarried.     14.  Ann  Jane,  died  unmarried. 

(Ill)  George  Gillespie  Wallace,  son  of  David  and  Jane  (Scott)  Wal- 
lace, was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  still  lives,  in  Darlington  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  23,  1838.  He  was  educated  in  the 
old  brick  district  school  building  near  his  home.  After  the  death  of  his 
father  he  purchased  all  the  rights  of  the  other  heirs  to  the  homestead  estate, 
and  now  owns  the  one  hundred  and  ninety-six  acres.  His  father  had  sold 
a  part  of  the  farm  to  a  coal  company,  but  George  G.  Wallace  repurchased 
it.  He  sold  the  coal  to  the  State  Line  Coal  Company,  and  it  became  known 
as  No.  6  Mine.  He  has  been  a  staunch  Republican,  and  has  served  as 
town  auditor,  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  as  school  director.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Wallace  mar- 
ried, in  1872,  Amy  Anna  Mead,  bom  at  Middletown,  Mahoning  county, 
Ohio,  June  26,  1843,  died  June  16,  1894,  daughter  of  H.  D.  and  Sarah 
(Reed)  Mead,  the  former  a  harness  maker  by  trade.  They  had  children: 
I.  Sarah  Jane,  born  August  29,  1874,  died  November  29,  1891.  2.  Florence, 
born  July  11,  1876;  married  Leander  Burns;  lives  in  Darlington  township. 
3.  Frances  Amy,  born  February  28,  1882;  married  Charles  Douglas;  lives 
in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  4.  David  Scott,  born  May  27,  1884; 
assists  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm,  and  also  works  in  the  coal 
mines. 


The   agricultural   interests  of   the   state  of   Pennsylvania 
WALLACE    have  been  benefited  for  a  number  of  generations  by  the 
efforts  in  this  direction  of  the  Wallace  family  of  Beaver 
county. 

(I)  Joseph  Wallace,  who  was  a  native  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  for  a  time  engaged  in  boat  building,  and  later  purchased  a 
farm,  which  he  cultivated  in  a  most  modern  manner  for  the  period  in 
which  he  lived.  When  he  purchased  his  farm  he  paid  at  the  rate  of  six 
dollars  per  acre,  but  it  has  largely  increased  in  value  since  that  time.  He 
erected  a  commodious  and  fine  looking  dwelling  upon  his  land,  and  added 
other  buildings  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion  demanded.  Mr.  Wallace 
married  Rachel  Spence,  who  was  born  in  county  Antrim,  Ireland,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  the  following  named  children :  Mary,  James  N., 
Nancy,  Washington,  Joseph  R.,  Rachel,  Elizabeth,  John  Spence,  see  for- 
ward ;  Virginia,  William.  Mr.  Wallace  was  a  Diemocrat  in  his  political 
opinions.  He  was  an  earnest  and  devout  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church. 

(II)  John  Spence  Wallace,  son  of  Joseph  and  Rachel  (Spence)  Wal- 
lace, was  born  on  the  homestead   farm  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  755 

December  29,  1849.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  township.  At  an  early  age  he  commenced  to  assist  his  father 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  and  in  this  manner  acquired  a  thorough 
and  practical  knowledge  of  all  the  details  of  farm  life.  He  was  always 
energetic  and  progressive  in  his  farming  as  well  as  his  business  methods. 
When  he  had  attained  manhood  he  purchased  a  farm  for  him- 
self, and  the  cultivation  of  this  property  engaged  his  time  and  attention 
for  many  years.  It  consists  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres,  some  of 
it  used  for  pasturage,  some  for  fruit  growing  and  some  for  general  produce. 
He  was  eminently  successful  in  his  operations.  Mr.  Wallace's  religious 
adherence  was  with  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 


The  English  family  of  Phillis  has  been  long  identified  with 
PHILLIS  Beaver  county,  whither  the  emigrant,  Joseph  Phillis,  came 
from  his  native  land.  Joseph  Phillis,  he  from  whom  the 
branch  herein  recorded  descends,  was  born  in  England  in  1694,  died  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  wonderful  age  of  one  hundred  and 
seven  years,  taking  his  place  among  the  centenarians,  few  in  number,  who 
have  lived  in  that  founty.  It  is  from  a  descendant  of  his,  another  Joseph 
Phillis,  that  a  continuous  line  to  Lemoyne  E.  Phillis  is  followed. 

(I)  This  Joseph  Phillis  was  born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  about  1789,  and  in  his  active  life  there  owned  a  farm  of 
considerable  acreage,  performing  also  the  work  of  a  wheelwright  until  his 
early  death.  He  married  Elizabeth  Cowen,  a  native  of  the  township  in 
which  he  was  born,  and  had  children:  i.  Henry,  deceased;  was  a  farmer 
of  Dougherty  township,  Beaver  county,  after  his  retirement  living  in  Beaver 
Falls  until  his  death.  2.  Joseph,  of  whom  further.  3.  William,  died  in 
Missouri,  where  his  active  life  had  been  passed.  4.  Cowen,  for  some 
time  a  resident  of  Dougherty  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
moved  to  Missouri  and  there  died.  5.  Thomas,  a  farmer  of  Marion  town- 
ship, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Zelienople,  Butler  county, 
Pennsylvania,  dying  in  that  place.  6.  Jane,  died  unmarried.  7.  Eliza, 
married  Paul  Greer,  deceased;  she  lives  in  Hubbard,  Ohio.  8.  Agnes,  died 
in  1912;  married  Henry  Alcorn,  lived  for  a  time  in  Ohio,  later  moving  to 
Morgantown,  West  Virginia.  9.  Ellen,  married  Horace  Bouch,  deceased; 
lived  in  Franklin  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  her  present  home 
being  Zelienople,  Pennsylvania.  10.  Sarah,  lives  unmarried  in  Zelienople, 
Pennsylvania.  11.  John  A.,  captain  of  a  boat  on  the  Ohio  river.  12. 
Alice,  married  Samuel  White. 

(II)  Joseph  (2)  Phillis,  son  of  Joseph  (i)  and  Elizabeth  (Cowen) 
Phillis  was  born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1821,  died  in  1895.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  his 
education  being  obtained  in  the  local  schools,  and  after  his  marriage  he 
moved  to  West  Bridgewater,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  became  a  builder 
of  canal  boats,  many  of  his  bulky  craft  finding  service  on  the  waters  of 


7S6  PENNSYLVANIA 

the  region,  others  travehng  far  from  the  place  of  their  manufacture.  Re- 
tiring from  this  business  he  purchased  a  farm  in  FrankHn  township,  cul- 
tivating that  land  until  his  subsequent  acquisition  of  the  Fombelle  estate, 
which  he  owned  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Farming  was  but  one  branch 
of  his  activities,  for  over  his  broad  acres  hundreds  of  sheep  grazed,  bring- 
ing him  substantial  gain  while  their  wool  was  marketable  and  greater  in- 
crease when  led  to  the  slaughter  house.  The  United  Presbyterian  Church 
was  that  of  Mr.  Phillis  and  his  wife,  while  he  was  a  staunch  champion 
of  Republicanism  throughout  his  entire  life.  His  reputation  among  his 
fellows  was  that  of  a  Christian  gentleman  to  whom  the  creditable  per- 
formance of  duty  was  of  paramount  importance,  whatever  the  personal 
sacrifice  or  discomfort  entailed,  and  by  strict  adherence  to  this  simple  creed, 
which  contains  the  essence  of  right  living,  he  gained  the  admiration  and 
approbation  of  his  friends  and  neighbors.  His  uncompromising  upright- 
ness was  blended  with  a  warm  and  sympathetic  nature  that  softened  the 
strictness  of  his  moral  outlook  and  gave  him  influence  among  others  of 
more  flexible  determination  and  less  strict  conduct. 

He  married,  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Vic- 
toria Fombelle,  born  in  Franklin  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1829,  died  in  1899,  surviving  her  husband  four  years.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Alexander  and  Delilah  (Magaw)  Fombelle,  Alexander  being 
a  son  of  Lucien  Fombelle.  Lucien  Fombelle  was  a  native  of  France,  in 
his  homeland  owning  vineyards  of  wide  extent  and  also  being  proprietor 
of  a  jewelry  business.  Religious  unrest  and  persecution  drove  him  from 
his  native  land  with  a  band  of  Huguenots  who  came  to  the  United  States 
in  the  post-revolutionary  period.  He  brought  with  him  all  of  his  large 
fortune  that  he  could  convert  into  currency  or  portable  securities,  one  of 
the  items  being  several  boxes  of  hand-wrought  jewelry  taken  from  his 
store,  pieces  of  which,  with  the  ancient  price  tags  still  fastened  thereto, 
are  in  the  possession  of  Lemoyne  E.  Phillis  at  the  present  time,  historic 
heirlooms  dearly  treasured.  The  total  value  of  his  belongings  was  estimated 
at  about  $60,000,  and  soon  after  he  and  his  wife  landed  in  this  country  he 
invested  a  part  of  this  sum  in  several  tracts  of  land,  one  of  fourteen  hun- 
dred acres  in  Franklin  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  another 
near  Wampum,  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  Lucien  Fombelle  had 
hoped  to  be  able  to  raise  vineyards  that  would  rival  those  of  his  homeland, 
but  several  unsuccessful  attempts  showed  him  the  futility  of  such  an  effort, 
the  soil  being  totally  unsuited  to  such  an  endeavor.  He  became  a  person 
of  importance  in  the  county,  and  in  many  cases  accommodated  his  neigh- 
bors and  added  to  his  wealth  by  lending  of  his  fortune  to  those  of  his 
acquaintance  in  need  of  cash  to  tide  them  over  some  financial  stringency 
or  to  promote  some  needed  improvement  on  their  property.  He  regarded 
such  dealings  as  purely  business  and  not  as  friendly  transactions,  and  as 
his  rates  of  interest  never  savored  of  usury  his  money  was  the  means  of 
aiding  many  who  would  have  been  uncomfortably  embarrassed  had  they 


BEAVER    COUNTY  757 

not  had  access  to  his  plentiful  store.  Lucien  Fombelle  was  the  father  of 
two  sons,  Alexander,  of  whom  further,  and  Lucien  (2),  who  married 
Eunice  Magaw,  a  sister  of  the  wife  of  his  brother,  Alexander.  Lucien  (2) 
Fombelle  was  a  farmer  of  Franklin  township,  after  his  retirement  making 
his  home  in  New  Brighton,  his  death  taking  place  in  that  town.  He  had 
two  children,  both  of  whom  died  unmarried.  Alexander  Fombelle  was 
born  in  Franklin  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  there 
reared  to  manhood,  becoming  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  seven  hundred 
acres.  Both  through  inheritance  and  his  own  efforts  he  possessed  a  fortune 
of  unusual  size  for  that  period,  and  in  later  life  moved  to  New  Brighton, 
where,  retired,  he  died.  He  married  Delilah  Magaw  and  had  children: 
I.  Gabriel,  an  attorney,  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  judiciary  of  Illinois, 
living  in  the  southern  part  of  that  state,  died  in  Denver,  Colorado;  he  was 
a  student,  the  range  of  whose  application  was  wide,  and  he  was  an  in- 
teresting converser  in  five  languages.  2.  James,  a  farmer  of  central  Illinois, 
died  unmarried.  3.  Alexander  (2),  owned  a  farm  near  Decatur,  Illinois, 
where  he  died.  4.  Justin,  a  merchant  of  southern  Illinois,  moved  to  a  farm 
near  Decatur,  Illinois,  and  there  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  living 
retired.  5.  Victoria,  of  previous  mention,  married  Joseph  Phillis.  6. 
Fannie,  married  Charles  Wooster,  and  moved  to  Missouri,  where  she 
died.  7.  Jane,  married  James  Fombelle,  a  first  cousin,  and  is  now  deceased. 
8.  Elvira,  married  Henry  Metz,  and  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  9. 
Louise,  married  Robert  Strobridge,  and  lived  in  New  Brighton,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Children  of  Joseph  and  Victoria  (Fombelle)  Phillis:  i.  Oliver,  a 
builder  and  contractor  of  Youngstown,  Ohio;  married  Nannie  Duer.  2. 
Joseph,  a  dentist,  lives  in  Pittsburgh,  North  Side,  Pennsylvania.  3. 
Lemoyne  E.,  of  whom  further.  4.  Frank  I.,  a  farmer  near  New  Bedford, 
Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Homer  G.,  lives  on  the  old  Fombelle 
homestead  at  Fombelle,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  there  proprietor  of  a  general 
store.  6.  Jane,  died  in  1870,  unmarried.  7.  Agnes,  married  Frank  Alcorn, 
of  Dougherty  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  8.  Caroline,  mar- 
ried David  Moyer;  lives  in  Ellwood  City,  Pennsylvania. 

(Ill)  Lemoyne  E.  Phillis,  son  of  Joseph  (2)  and  Victoria  (Fombelle) 
Phillis,  was  born  in  Franklin  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April 
28,  1862.  He  began  his  education  in  a  country  school  near  his  home,  com- 
pleting his  studies  in  Grove  City  College.  For  thirteen  years  he  was  a 
school  teacher,  holding  positions  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
Macon  county,  Illinois,  after  which  he  was  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Wurtemberg,  Pennsylvania,  in  which  place  he  was  postmaster  for  three 
years.  He  moved  to  Ellwood  City,  Pennsylvania,  and  for  eight  years  was 
a  contractor,  owning  and  conducting  a  lumber  yard  in  connection  with  his 
first-named  line,  for  the  five  years  following  being  proprietor  of  a  grocery 
store.  Selling  this  business,  after  one  year  as  a  wholesale  liquor  dealer, 
he  moved  to  Beaver  Falls,  where  under  his  direction  a  new  building  which 
had  been  erected  at  the  corner  of  Fourteenth  street  and  Seventh  avenue 


758  PENNSYLVANIA 

was  converted  into  a  modernly  equipped  hotel,  which  since  1906  has  been 
conducted  by  him  as  the  Hotel  Phillis,  with  profit  and  success.  The  re- 
ceipts of  the  house  and  the  approval  that  it  has  found  with  its  patrons 
show  that  it  has  taken  its  place  among  the  most  prosperous  houses  of  en- 
tertainment in  the  city,  a  fact  gratifying  and  pleasing  to  its  founder.  Mr. 
Phillis  adheres  to  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

He  married,  March  27,  1889,  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Potter,  her 
father  a  farmer  of  Franklin  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  They 
are  the  parents  of  one  son:    Kenneth  R.,  born  April  12,  1892. 


The    Phillis    family   of    Beaver    county,    Pennsylvania,    has 
PHILLIS     figured  to  good  advantage  in  the  industrial  life  of  the  com- 
munity   for   many   years,    and   the   various   members   have 
always  earned  commendation  for  the  faithful  manner  in  which  they  have 
performed  their  duties  as  citizens. 

(I)  Jacob  Phillis,  the  first  of  this  family  of  whom  we  have  definite 
record,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Beaver  county,  his  farm  being 
located  in  Brighton  township.  He  married  Margaret  Hartford,  and  had 
children,  as  follows:  Janies  M.,  Thomas  Jefiferson,  see  forward;  Wash- 
ington, Jacob,  William,  Mary,  Tamer,  Matilda,  Rachel,  Nancy. 

(II)  Thomas  Jefiferson  Phillis,  son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Hartford) 
Phillis,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  married  (first) 
Susan  Wyant,  and  had  children:     Elizabeth,  who  married  James  Berry; 

Rachael,  who  married  Pate;  James  M.,  see  forward.     He  married 

(second)   Anna   Bates  and  had  children  by  this  marriage:     Homer  and 
Mary. 

(III)  James  M.  Phillis,  son  of  Thomas  Jefiferson  and  Susan  (Wyant) 
Phillis,  was  born  on  the  family  homestead  in  Brighton  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  December  7,  1839.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township  and  was  graduated  from  them  with  honor. 
He  then  became  a  student  at  Beaver  College,  but  abandoned  his  collegiate 
studies  upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  when  he  was  active  in  the 
defence  of  the  rights  of  his  country.  His  health  became  impaired  as  a 
result  of  the  exposure  and  hardships  he  had  endured  during  the  progress 
of  the  war.  He  was  very  successful  as  a  school  teacher  and  as  a  teacher 
of  music,  and  won  a  wide-spread  reputation  in  both  of  these  branches.  Mr. 
Phillis  married  Nancy  Phillis,  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1848.  She  has  spent  her  entire  life  in  Beaver  county,  and  has 
lived  in  Beaver  since  1870.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Madison  and  Mary 
(Ewing)  Phillis,  who  had  children:  Dallas,  unmarried;  Nancy,  who  mar- 
ried Mr.  Phillis;  Stanton,  who  died  young;  Allen,  unmarried;  Melissa, 
married  John  Lloyd ;  Margaret,  married  Charles  Colbert ;  Jennie,  married 
Thomas   Bromley;   Ella   F.,   married    George   Embaugh.     James   M.   and 


^,J^.5%^au^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  759 

Nancy  (Phillis)  Phillis  had  children  as  follows:  i.  Mary  Susan,  born 
July  7,  1866,  died  in  March,  1895;  she  married  Elmer  Jones  and  had 
children:  Alethea  Phillis  and  Phillis  Elmer.  2.  Charles  L.,  born  July 
14,  1868,  died  September  30,  1905 ;  he  married  Estelle  Brown.  3.  John  M., 
born  November  2,  1870 ;  he  married  Estelle  Mariman,  who  died  at  Monaca, 
Pennsylvania.  4.  James  J.,  born  March  7,  1876;  he  married  Etta  Kirk. 
5.  Riley  Taylor,  twin  of  James  J.,  died  September  22,  1905. 


The  name  of  Potter  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  numerous 
POTTER    in  the  United  States,  no  less  than  eleven  settlers   of  that 

name  coming  to  New  England  during  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  branch  herein  recorded  does  not  date  to  these  settlers,  how- 
ever, but  to  Robert  Potter,  who  came  from  Ireland  to  Pennsylvania  in 
1774,  settling  soon  afterward  in  Allegheny  county,  where  he  died  leaving 
issue. 

(II)  James  Potter,  son  of  Robert  Potter,  was  born  in  Western  Penn- 
sylvania about  1775.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Allegheny  county,  later 
removed  to  Venango  county,  remaining  there  until  1812,  when  he  moved 
to  Beaver  county,  which  was  his  home  until  he  died.  He  was  a  stone 
mason  by  trade  and  a  contractor.  After  his  removal  in  1812  to  his  farm, 
four  miles  from  Beaver,  he  erected  a  stone  house  thereon  which  is  yet 
standing.  He  was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  as  were 
his  children.  He  died  in  Industry  township,  and  is  buried  in  the  Old  Beaver 
Cemetery.  He  married  (first)  Mary  Quigley,  who  bore  him  seven  children: 
Robert,  see  forward ;  James,  John  K.,  Enoch,  Calvin,  Emily,  Margaret.  He 
married  (second)  a  Miss  Christie,  who  bore  him  one  child,  Hannah,  married 
Robert  Barclay,  now  (1913)  the  only  survivor  of  the  family.  Both  wives 
died  in  Industry  township. 

(III)  Robert  (2)  Potter,  eldest  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Quigley) 
Potter,  was  born  in  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  10,  1806,  died 
January  i,  1894.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Beaver  county  and 
later  studied  civil  engineering  and  surveying.  On  November  19,  1836,  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Raccoon  township,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death  at 
the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the 
county,  served  one  appointive  and  one  elective  term  as  county  commis- 
sioner; was  justice  of  the  peace  for  Raccoon  township  for  thirty  years; 
was  also  school  director  and  supervisor.  Mr.  Potter  married  (first)  Octo- 
ber 10,  1835,  Margaret  Irvin  Braden,  born  in  Raccoon  township,  daughter 
of  John  Braden,  a  farmer  of  the  township;  she  died  in  1843.  He  married 
(second)  January  11,  1855,  Rosanna  Reed,  born  in  Raccoon  township, 
died  in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  15,  1903, 
daughter  of  James  and  Agnes  Reed,  the  former  named  a  farmer  of  the 
township.  She  was  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  whom  the  following  grew 
to  manhood  and  womanhood:  Harriet,  married  Daniel  Baker;  Jennie, 
married  Cornelius  Weygandt;  Washington  B.,  married  Eliza  Kerr;  Ros- 


76o  PENNSYLVANIA 

anna,  married  Robert  Potter,  as  above  stated;  John,  married  Ruth  Ann 
Allen;  Bettie,  married  John  Bryan;  Jesse,  married  Martha  Jane  Kennedy; 
all  of  these  are  now  deceased.  Children  of  Mr.  Potter  by  first  marriage :  i. 
Lieutenant  James,  born  September  8,  1836;  an  officer  of  Company  A, 
Seventeenth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  Company,  was  killed  at  Shep- 
herdstown.  West  Virginia,  in  1862.  2.  John  Braden,  see  forward.  3.  Mary, 
born  February  13,  1841,  died  in  infancy.  4.  William  B.,  bom  September 
I.  1843.  5.  Emily,  born  September  7,  1846;  married  Walter  S.  Dunn. 
Children  by  second  marriage:  6.  Ida  Mary,  born  October  5,  i860,  died 
unmarried,  December  13,  1887.  7.  Robert  Calvin,  see  forward.  8.  Wash- 
ington M.,  born  September  8,  1864;  a  lawyer  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  a  well  known  business  man;  married  Cora  A.,  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Hartman)  Mengel,  the  former  named  a  native  of 
Germany,  the  latter  named  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Potter  have  two  children:  Catherine  Hartman,  born  in  Freedom, 
May  13,  1905,  and  Mary  Mengel,  born  October  10,  1913. 

(IV)  Robert  Calvin  Potter,  son  of  Robert  (2)  and  Rosanna  (Reed) 
Potter,  was  bom  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides  in  Potter  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  6,  1862.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  county,  and  with  the  exception  of  two  years  has 
spent  his  life  on  the  homestead  farm.  The  homestead  consists  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  Mr.  Potter  rented  it  in  1894,  cultivat- 
ing it  as  a  farm  for  general  products.  His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the 
Democratic  party.  Mr.  Potter  married,  in  1894,  Maude  L.,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Calhoun,  and  they  have  three  children:  George  A.,  Charles  M., 
IdaB. 


(IV)  John  Braden  Potter,  son  of  Robert  (q.  v.)  and  Margaret 
POTTER  I.  (Braden)  Potter,  was  born  in  Raccoon  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  October  25,  1838.  There  he  was  a  far- 
mer. He  came  to  Monaca  in  1884,  where  he  engaged  in  teaming,  and  where 
he  died,  October  20,  1903.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  Margaret  Shroads,  born  in  Beaver 
county,  in  1843,  died  in  1880.  They  had  children:  William  James,  deceased 
John  Presley,  see  forward;  Washington  Shroads;  Hester  Lowson;  Ada 
Agatha;  Ella  Olive;  an  infant  daughter,  twin  of  Ella  Olive,  now  deceased. 
William  Shroads,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Potter,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1807, 
died  June  9,  1885.  He  cultivated  his  farm,  and  was  also  an  auctioneer  for 
half  a  century.  He  was  active  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  serving 
in  a  number  of  local  offices.  He  was  a  constable  for  thirteen  years,  and  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty  years.  He  married  Margaret  Baker,  born  in 
Virginia  in  July,  181 1,  died  March  22,  1881,  daughter  of  Anthony  Baker, 
who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  They 
had  children :  George  W. ;  Mary,  now  deceased,  married  Dr.  David  Miller ; 
Margaret,  married  John  Braden  Potter,  as  above  stated,  Martha  B.,  married 


I 


BEAVER    COUNTY  761 

John  C.  Dunn;  Lowson  V.,  married  B.  F.  Badders;  William  James  E. 
George  Shroads,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Potter,  was  a  farmer  in  Allegheny 
county,  Ohio,  and  in  Virginia.  In  1824  he  came  to  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  farmed  at  Vanport.  He  died  in  Moon  township  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years.  He  married  Mary  Miner,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years,  and  they  had  children :  Jacob,  William,  mentioned  above ;  Samuel, 
Margaret,  Eliza,  John.  Jacob  Shroads,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Potter,  was  bom  in  Germany  and  came  to  Pittsburgh  when  that  city  was 
still  a  borough.  He  located  in  Moon  township,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
farming,  and  was  killed  in  an  accident. 

(V)  John  Presley  Potter,  son  of  John  Braden  and  Margaret  (Shroads) 
Potter,  was  born  in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March 
23,  1876.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Monaca,  and  in  1882  took  up  his  residence  in  Monaca.  He  was  as- 
sociated with  his  father  in  the  teaming  and  contracting  business,  and  took 
up  coal  in  addition  to  these  lines.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  bus- 
iness, and  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  house  at  No.  612  Washington  avenue. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Mr.  Potter  married,  in  1891,  Alice  Figley,  born  in  Moon  township,  in 
1879,  daughter  of  Zachariah  and  Susan  (Kennedy)  Figley.  Zachariah 
Figley  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  11,  1825,  died  Feb- 
ruary S,  1902.  His  wife  was  born  February  12,  1838,  died  August  9,  1897. 
He  was  a  son  of  William  and  Nancy  (Baker)  Figley,  the  former  born 
June  I,  1794,  died. May  15,  1857.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mar- 
garet (Hart)  Baker,  the  former  born  in  1786,  died  April  26,  1843,  the 
latter  died  August  6,  1840,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  Daniel  Baker 
was  a  son  of  George  Baker,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Potter  had  children:  Zachariah,  John  B., 
Robert  Glenn,  William,  Raymond,  Charles,  Margaret,  Lillian,  Alice. 


For  many  generations  the  Montgomery  family,  now 
MONTGOMERY  represented  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  has 
been  identified  with  agricultural  interests,  thereby 
adding  to  the  prosperity  of  the  state. 

(I)  James  Montgomery,  the  first  of  whom  we  have  record,  was  a 
native  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  successful  millwright  and 
farmer  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  whither  he  had  removed  from  his 
native  state,  and  where  his  death  occurred.    He  married Hoy. 

(H)  James  Montgomery,  son  of  James  and (Hoy)  Montgomery, 

was  born  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  and  received  a  part  of  his  education 
there  and  a  part  in  Frankford,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  sent  after 
the  early  death  of  his  mother.  At  Frankford  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  tanner's  trade,  a  calling  he  followed  for  a  period  of  thirteen  years,  at 
Frankford,  Burgettstown,  and  in  Columbiana  county.  After  this  he  was 
occupied  on  the  river  at  intervals,  as  assistant  on  a  flat  boat.     He  then 


762  PENNSYLVANIA 

took  up  farming  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  purchased  one  hundred  acres  and  improved  this  property;  he  then 
removed  to  Greene  township,  where  his  son  is  now  located,  and  there  his 
death  occurred.  He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  married  Sarah  Stephenson,  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  (Hooper)  Stephenson,  the  latter  of  Alle- 
gheny county,  the  former  of  Maryland,  later  of  Allegheny  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  was  a  farmer.  James  and  Sarah  (Stephenson)  Mont- 
gomery had  children :    John,  see  forward ;  Nancy  J. 

(HI)  John  Montgomery,  only  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Stephenson) 
Montgomery,  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  13,  1849.  He  attended  the  schools,  however,  in  Greene  township, 
in  the  same  county,  coming  to  the  farm  at  Hookstown,  on  which  he  resides 
at  the  present  time,  when  he  was  about  six  years  of  age,  and  has  lived  on  it 
continuously  since  that  time.  As  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  handle  the 
plow  he  commenced  to  work  in  the  fields,  his  life  being  spent  in  the  usual 
uneventful  manner  of  a  farmer's  boy  of  that  period.  Upon  the  comple- 
tion of  his  education  the  labors  of  the  farm  absorbed  all  of  his  time  and 
attention,  and  he  has  since  devoted  his  energies  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
land.  He  has  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  under  cultivation,  and  has  made 
many  improvements  on  the  property.  Among  these  is  the  erection  of  a 
modern,  well-equipped  house,  fitted  up  with  all  possible  conveniences.  Mr. 
Montgomery  takes  an  intelligent  and  earnest  interest  in  the  political  situa- 
tion of  his  section,  as  well  as  in  that  of  the  entire  country,  and  casts  his 
vote  in  favor  of  the  Republican  party,  but  he  has  never  as  yet  desired  to 
hold  public  office. 


This  is  a  name  which  is  found  very  frequently  in  the  United 
MILLER     States,  and  has  come  here   from  several  countries.     In  its 

unaltered  form  it  has  come  to  us  directly  and  indirectly,  by 
way  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  from  England.  In  another  form — Moeller  and 
Mueller — it  came  here  from  France  and  Germany,  and  in  the  course  of  time 
assumed  its  present  form. 

(I)  Peter  Miller  was  born  in  Strassburg,  then  France,  now  a  German 
possession,  in  1810,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1830.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  boiler  making  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  became 
foreman  in  the  first  boiler  works  in  that  city.  About  1856  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  Watson  &  Monroe,  and  subsequently,  about  i868,  he  formed  a 
connection  with  Karl  &  Snyder,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he  retired 
from  active  work.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Fernch  army  and  always 
retained  his  soldierly  bearing.  He  was  an  Independent  in  political  opinion, 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  He  married 
Catherine  Arbogast,  who  was  born  on  board  ship  while  her  parents  were 
on  their  way  to  this  country,  and  she  died  in  November,  1888.    The  mar- 


mcZ^A 


BEAVER   COUNTY  763 

riage  took  place  in  Pittsburgh,  and  they  were  blessed  with  twenty-one 
children. 

(II)  Charles  Miller,  son  of  Peter  and  Catherine  (Arbogast)  Miller, 
was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  June  11,  1849.  His  education,  which 
was  a  limited  one,  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  ten 
years  he  commenced  the  more  serious  business  of  life  by  working  for  a 
tobacconist.  At  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  he  was  engaged 
at  blowing  the  bellows  for  a  blacksmith,  and  was  then  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  boilermaker's  trade.  Until  1878  he  was  employed  in  this  calling  in  Pitts- 
burgh, becoming  manager  for  Rider  &  Connelly,  and  in  that  year  purchased 
a  boiler  shop  at  Edenburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  until  1883.  He 
sold  this  to  advantage,  then  returned  to  Pittsburgh  and  resumed  his  trade 
there  until  1884.  In  that  year  he  went  to  Steubenville,  Ohio,  but  only  re- 
mained there  a  short  time.  November  9,  1884,  he  removed  to  New  Brighton, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  later  crossed  the  river  to  Beaver  Falls, 
where  he  resides  at  the  present  time.  For  a  short  period  of  time  he  rented  a 
shop,  but  his  work  soon  outgrew  the  capacity  of  this  and  he  built  a  shop, 
which  he  subsequently  sold  to  the  Connecting  Rod  Company.  In  the  same 
year  that  he  built  this  shop,  1893,  he  also  erected  a  fine  residence  on  nearby 
property,  and  has  lived  there  since  that  time.  He  employs  from  eight  to  ten 
men,  and  his  works  are  known  as  the  Beaver  Valley  Boiler  Company.  His 
was  the  first  boiler  company  in  Beaver  county,  and  has  the  honor  of  building 
the  first  steam  boiler  in  the  county.  It  is  now  largely  engaged  in  general  re- 
pair and  special  construction  work.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  He  has 
never  desired  to  hold  public  office,  but  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 

Mr.  Miller  married,  April  7,  1874,  Emma  Lee  Davis,  born  in  Port 
Washington,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Barney  and  Margaret  (Cogan)  Davis.  They 
had  children :  Catherine,  born  at  Port  Washington,  Ohio,  February  22,  1875, 
unmarried;  Charles,  born  December  17,  1877,  a  boilermaker  at  Beaver  Falls; 
Martha,  born  February  25,  1880,  married  Clinton  Weikart,  and  lives  in 
New  Brighton,  Beaver  county;  G.  Alger,  born  February  19,  1882,  also  a 
boilermaker;  Josephine,  born  September  27,  1884,  married  P.  J.  Thompson, 
and  lives  at  College  Hill,  Beaver  county;  Emma,  born  November  12,  1886, 
unmarried,  and  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company ;  Harry, 
born  March  i,  1889,  a  structural  steel  worker,  and  lives  in  Beaver  Falls; 
Joseph  and  Peter,  twins,  born  February  i,  1891,  died  in  infancy;  Frederick, 
born  March  24,  1892,  a  boilermaker  in  the  employ  of  his  father;  Sigismund 
Francis,  born  October  27,  1895. 


Frank  C.  O'Rourke  is  numbered  among  the  citizens  of 
O'ROURKE    New   Brighton  who  have  ever  been  identified  with   the 
most  important  of  the  city's  institutions,   following  the 
example  of  an  honored  father. 


764  PENNSYLVANIA 

(I)  Christopher  O'Rourke,  father  of  Frank  C.  O'Rourke,  was  born  at 
Milton,  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1832,  and  although  his 
death  occurred  thirty-two  years  ago  he  is  still  held  in  respectful  and  reverent 
remembrance  by  his  many  friends.  Christopher  O'Rourke's  death  was  the 
result  of  an  accident  that  occurs  with  appalling  frequency  and  nearly  always 
with  fatal  results.  He  was  a  passenger  on  the  eastbound  Pacific  Express 
which  was  scheduled  to  stop  at  New  Brighton,  his  home.  The  probabilities 
are  that  as  the  speed  of  the  train  decreased  when  entering  the  town,  Mr. 
O'Rourke  swung  off  the  steps  before  it  had  come  to  a  full  stop  and  was 
hurled  to  the  ground,  receiving  injuries  that  caused  his  death.  At  the  time 
he  was  in  full  vigor  of  a  useful  existence,  holding  prominent  place  in  the 
affairs  of  the  town  and  wielding  a  great  influence  in  the  community.  His 
absence  from  his  unusually  large  circle  of  friends  caused  a  void  by  no  means 
easy  to  fill,  their  sincere  grief  constituting  a  perfect  tribute  to  the  lofty 
character  they  had  come  to  love  so  well.  His  presence  in  a  gathering  seemed 
to  bind  the  members  thereof  in  sympathetic  understanding,  while  his  easy, 
ready  flow  of  charming  conversation  provided  topics  of  common  interest. 
Without  being  in  the  least  aggressive  or  dictatorial  he  appeared  to  dominate 
any  enterprise  or  undertaking  with  which  he  was  connected,  his  companions 
and  colleagues  always  looking  to  him  for  direction  and  guidance.  Nor  was 
he  so  accustomed  to  rule  that  he  became  unused  to  the  gentler  arts.  In  his 
family  relations  he  was  the  ideal  husband  and  father,  affectionate  and 
thoughtful,  and  in  all  private  connection  was  ever  the  considerate  kindly 
gentleman.  Generous  to  a  fault,  the  need  of  a  friend  needed  no  explanation 
to  receive  his  immediate  assistance.  His  public  charities  were  irrespective 
of  color,  race  or  creed,  widely  diversified  and  wisely  bestowed.  An  admir- 
able character  in  every  relation  to  his  fellowmen  and  living  a  life  beyond 
reproach  by  any  man,  he  was  called  into  the  presence  of  his  Maker  with  no 
preparation  other  than  that  of  a  soul  pure  and  undefiled  and  an  all  embracing 
love  for  his  final  Judge.  None  who  knew  of  his  exemplary  career  could 
fear  for  the  security  of  his  eternal  rest. 

He  married  Emma,  daughter  of  James  Edgar,  who  married  (second) 
Daniel  C.  Schofield.  Children  of  Christopher  and  Emma  (Edgar)  O'Rourke: 
Frank  C,  of  whom  further;  Louis  E.,  drowned  in  1880,  aged  thirteen  years. 

(II)  Frank  C.  O'Rourke,  son  of  Christopher  and  Emma  (Edgar) 
O'Rourke,  was  born  in  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  June 
13,  1870.  He  obtained  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  birthplace,  and  upon  the  completion  of  his  education  he  accepted  a 
position  in  1888  as  bookkeeper  for  the  firm  of  Martsolf  Brothers,  of  New 
Brighton,  remaining  there  until  1891.  Two  years  later  he  returned  to  their 
employ  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  and  bookkeeper  and  in  1906  the  concern 
was  incorporated  as  Martsolf  Brothers  Company  when  he  was  admitted  to 
partnership  in  the  firm,  with  the  office  of  secretary  in  the  company's  organi- 
zation. Besides  his  connection  with  the  business  of  Martsolf  Brothers  Com- 
pany, he  is  a  director  of  the  old  National  Bank  of  New  Brighton,  secretary 


BEAVER   COUNTY  765 

and  treasurer  of  tlie  New  Brighton  Masonic  Building  Association,  and 
secretary  of  the  New  Brighton  Borough  Council,  and  director  of  the  Manu- 
facturers' Association  of  Beaver  County.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church,  and  director  of  the  New  Brighton  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  and  is  also  prominent  fraternally,  being  past  master  of  New 
Brighton  Lodge,  No.  259,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  past  high  priest  of 
Harmony  Chapter,  No.  206,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of  Beaver  Falls;  member 
of  Pittsburgh  Commandery,  No.  i,  Knights  Templar;  Hiram  Council,  Royal 
and  Select  Masters,  of  Newcastle,  Pennsylvania;  thrice  potent  master  of 
Newcastle  Lodge  of  Perfectiori,  Fourteenth  Degree,  of  Newcastle,  Penn- 
sylvania; Pittsburgh  Consistory,  Thirty-second  Degree,  Sovereign  Princes 
of  the  Royal  Secret;  Syria  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  and  a 
member  of  the  Supreme  Council,  thirty-third  degree.  Ancient  and  Accepted 
Scottish  Rite,  and  Royal  Order  of  Scotland;  district  deputy  grand  master 
of  the  Thirty-seventh  District  of  Pennsylvania.  He  also  belongs  to  the  New 
Brighton  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias;  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  of  Beaver  Falls;  and  the  New  Brighton  Knights  of  Maccabees. 

Mr.  O'Rourke  married  (first)  Vesta  S.,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary 
Morrow,  who  died  in  1901 ;  (second)  in  1905,  Harriet  F.  Bradshaw,  of 
New  Brighton;  children:  Frank  C.  (2)  and  Mabel  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  O'Rourke  is  firmly  established  in  the  high  estimation  and  respect 
of  his  business  associates,  and  plays  an  important  part  in  the  administration 
of  its  varied  affairs.  Well  liked  and  universally  popular,  he  is  worthy  of 
both,  his  genial  and  friendly  characteristics  being  the  means  by  which  he 
retains  a  large  number  of  firm  friends. 


The  name  of  Bruce  has  been  so  intimately  connected  with  the 
BRUCE  history  of  Scotland  that  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  enter  into 
any  of  the  details  concerning  the  earlier  life  of  this  family. 
While  the  connection  between  the  Bruce  family  of  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  beloved  hero  of  Scottish  history  cannot  be  clearly  estab- 
lished, it  is  but  fair  to  assume  that  they  had  a  common  origin. 

(I)  Charles  Bruce  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  in  early  years  emigrated 
to  the  United  States.  He  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Raccoon 
Creek,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  bravely  endured  all  the  hardships 

with  which  the  early  settlers  had  to  contend.     He  married  Christina  , 

and  reared  a  large  family  of  boys,  among  them  being:  George,  of  further 
mention,  and  Rodgers,  who  was  actively  engaged  in  the  Civil  War  and  is 
supposed  to  have  died  in  Andersonville  Prison. 

(H)  George  Bruce,  son  of  Charles  and  Christina  Bruce,  was  born  on 
South  Side,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  near  Sheffield.  His  occupations  were  those  connected  with  farm- 
ing and  the  butcher  business,  and  he  and  his  three  brothers  were  the  owners 
of  the  first  separator  in  that  section  of  the  country,  and  operated  it  success- 
fully for  a  number  of  years.    Later  he  opened  a  store  in  Beaver  Falls,  be- 


766  PENNSYLVANIA 

came  the  ticket  agent  at  Geneva  Station,  and  also  conducted  a  grocery  store. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Mount  Carmel  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  married  Mary,  born  near  Kittanning,  Armstrong  county,  Pennsylvania,  a 

daughter  of  John  Wilson.     They  had  children:  Ellen,  who  married  

McClearly;  Lina  Jane;  Robert  Clarence,  of  further  mention;  Charles  W.j 
Amanda;  George. 

(HI)  Robert  Clarence  Bruce,  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Wilson)  Bruce, 
was  born  in  Hopewell  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December 
27,  1854.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
township,  and  was  then  apprenticed  to  learn  the  stone  mason's  trade  and  that 
of  brick  laying.  Having  mastered  these  callings,  he  followed  them  success- 
fully for  a  number  of  years.  For  a  period  of  four  years  he  then  operated 
the  ferry  at  South  Heights,  after  which  he  resumed  his  former  occupations, 
with  which  he  is  identified  at  the  present  time.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  former  years  he  was  very  active  in  political 
affairs  in  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party,  and  for  a  time  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Republican  county  committee.  Mr.  Bruce  married,  December 
25,  1878,  Mamie  J.  Davidson,  born  in  New  Scottsville,  Hopewell  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  She  was  graduated  with  honor  from  the  old 
Beaver  Seminary,  and  was  engaged  in  teaching  during  the  two  years  prior 
to  her  marriage.  Her  parents  were  Ebenezer  and  Mary  (Hamilton)  David- 
son, the  former  born  in  Ireland,  the  latter  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, of  Scotch  descent.  The  maternal  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Bruce  was 
Mary  Snodgrass.  Children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruce:  Oliver,  of  Webb  City, 
Missouri ;  Mary,  with  her  parents ;  Bertha,  at  Woodlawn ;  Homer,  of  Stutes- 
bury,  Pennsylvania ;  Mabel,  deceased ;  Jay,  of  Pankuska,  Oklahoma ;  Charles ; 
Grace ;  Vallie ;  Mabel. 


The  life  of  James  Markey  is  typical  of  the  enterprise  and 
MARKEY  energy  which  so  strongly  characterizes  the  men  of  this  age 
and  clime,  and  which  seems  largely  the  result  of  the  inter- 
mixture of  our  American  stock  with  the  strong  and  healthy  peoples  who, 
lured  by  the  promise  of  freedom  and  opportunity,  continue  to  pour  in  upon 
us  from  across  the  seas.  His  maternal  forebears  were  Americans,  his  grand- 
father having  fought  in  the  cause  of  freedom  during  the  Revolution,  and  an 
uncle  in  the  War  of  1812.  The  revolutionary  soldier  and  his  father,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  were  among  the  pioneers  who  settled  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. Our  subject's  father,  on  the  contrary,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
bom  in  that  country  in  1809,  and  coming  thence,  first  to  New  York,  then 
to  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  and  finally  to  Beaver  county  in  that  state. 
He  was  by  trade  a  tanner  and  currier  and  was  regarded  as  among  the  best 
in  western  Pennsylvania.  On  his  arrival  in  Beaver  county,  he  worked  for 
a  time  for  a  Mr.  Stokes,  of  Beaver,  but  soon  found  employment  in  a  tan- 
nery in  Monaca,  eventually  buying  out  the  owner,  Avery  Graham,  and 


BEAVER    COUNTY  767 

conducting  so  large  a  business  that  he  was  enabled  to  retire  some  time  prior 
to  his  death  in  1881. 

James  Markey  was  born  in  Monaca,  Pennsylvania,  January  25,  1845,  a 
son  of  Peter  and  Nancy  (Steward)  Markey,  Mrs.  Markey  being  a  native 
of  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  one  of  three  children,  they 
being:  Mary  Jane,  Elizabeth,  James,  all  residents  of  Monaca.  Mr.  Markey 
has  spent  his  life  in  his  native  town,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  region.  He  was  for  a  number  of  years  proprietor  of 
the  Central  Hotel,  Monaca,  but  is  now  retired  from  active  business.  He  has 
always  been  interested  in  real  estate  and  owns  considerable  property  in 
Beaver  county.  Mr.  Markey  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  has  held  a  num- 
ber of  local  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Rochester  Lodge,  No.  229,  Free 
and  accepted  Masons.  Mr.  Markey  married  a  Miss  Graham,  of  West 
Pittsburgh,  their  union  being  blessed  with  two  children :  Ettie,  now  the  wife 
of  John  Pettit,  of  Monaca,  and  Edie,  now  the  wife  of  David  Berry,  of  the 
same  place. 


John  Gordon,  who  was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  emi- 
GORDON     grated  to  the  United  States  at  an  early  date,  and  spent  the 

remainder  of  his  life  here.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  thor- 
oughly patriotic,  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  married 
and  had  children: 

(II)  William  Gordon,  son  of  John  Gordon,  was  a  pilot  on  the  Ohio 
river,  and  died  in  1845  in  early  manhood.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Levi  Merriman,  who  lived  between  Rochester  and  Pittsburgh.  They  had 
children :  John,  married  Rachel  Nanna,  and  lived  just  below  the  residence  of 
Major  John  Linton;  Sarah;  Margaret;  James;  George,  died  young;  Thomas, 
died  young;  Levi,  died  young;  Robert,  married  Catherine  Marsh;  Henry,  of 
whom  further.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Gordon  removed 
with  her  family  to  Rochester,  where  she  at  first  resided  in  the  "Leaf  House," 
and  later  in  a  small  house  which  was  located  where  Hoffman's  store  now 
stands.  They  lived  there  twelve  years.  The  place  was  celebrated  in  all  the 
country  roundabout  for  the  clearness  and  purity  of  a  spring  which  was  at 
the  roadside  there.  Travelers  came  from  far  and  near  to  enjoy  its  cool 
freshness,  and  the  supply  was  a  plentiful  one  until  about  1899,  when  the 
digging  of  a  well  in  the  vicinity  was  the  cause  of  the  supply  failing  at  the 
spring. 

(III)  Captain  Henry  Gordon,  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Merriman) 
Gordon,  was  born  in  Freedom,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February 
22,  1838,  died  at  Rochester,  Pennsylvania,  July  5,  1914.  From  the  time 
he  was  nine  years  of  age  he  was  self-supporting,  finding  suitable  occu- 
pation on  the  river.  His  first  position  was  on  the  "Michigan,"  and  he 
then  passed  through  various  grades  until  he  was  able  to  fill  the  position 
of  engineer.  He  remained  in  active  service  on  the  river  for  a  period  of 
fifty  years,  then  retired.    He  served  as  a  park  commissioner  during  a  term 


768  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  two  years,  and  the  beauty  and  general  fine  condition  of  the  parks  during 
his  term  of  office  is  a  sufficient  testimony  to  his  executive  ability  and  artistic 
sense,  and  after  this  service  he  served  as  janitor  in  the  Adams  street  school 
for  a  period  of  eight  years.  During  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Gordon  carried 
soldiers  and  provisions  on  the  river  for  the  government.  At  that  time 
he  was  mate  of  the  vessel  on  which  he  was  employed,  and  later  held  the 
rank  of  captain.  Mr.  Gordon  married,  August  5,  1862,  Anstis  R.  Davis, 
born  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  John  M.  Davis,  who 
came  to  Rochester  in  the  forties,  when  he  was  a  young  man,  as  a  stage 
driver,  and  in  1853  settled  in  Phillipsburg,  now  Monaca.  John  Gulp,  the 
maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Gordon,  was  in  Rochester  in  1795,  at  which 
time  there  was  a  solitary  dwelling  there,  which  was  occupied  by  the  ferry- 
man at  the  point.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gordon  resided  on  Adams  street,  Rochester. 
Children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gordon:  i.  Mary  Emma.  2.  Millard  Fillmore,  who 
was  for  many  years  employed  at  glass  manufacturing,  is  at  present  (1914) 
with  the  H.  C.  Fry  Glass  Company,  and  is  an  expert  glass  worker ;  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  Coulter,  of  Rochester  township.  3.  John 
Henry,  who  was  employed  for  some  time  in  the  Point  Bottle  Works ;  at 
present  with  the  H.  C.  Fry  Glass  Company,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
town  council  of  Rochester;  married  Mary  Kaufman,  whose  mother  resides 
in  Butler,  Pennsylvania.  4.  William  T.,  of  whom  further.  Henry  Gordon 
died  July  5,  1914.    Mrs.  Gordon  resides  at  the  home  place. 

(IV)  William  T.  Gordon,  son  of  Henry  and  Anstis  R.  (Davis)  Gor- 
don, was  born  in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  October  10,  1870. 
His  elementary  and  college  preparatory  education  were  acquired  in  the 
public  schools  of  Rochester  and  at  Peirsol's  Academy,  and  he  took  a  full 
course  at  the  College  of  Pharmacy  at  the  University  of  Pittsburgh,  being 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  class  of  1894  with  the  degree  of 
Ph.  G.  Prior  to  taking  up  the  study  of  pharmacy  at  the  college  theoretically, 
he  had  been  engaged  in  the  practical  study  of  it  since  1886.  At  first  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  James  R.  Lloyd,  a  druggist  in  Rochester,  at  the  same  time 
delivering  the  Pittsburgh  morning  papers,  1884  to  1888,  then  was  employed 
with  H.  L.  Schweppe,  druggist,  of  New  Brighton,  1889,  until  the  opening 
of  a  drug  store  with  John  F.  Gordon.  In  1892  he  entered  college,  but  re- 
tained his  interest  in  this  business,  and  after  his  graduation  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  his  business  associate  and  became  the  sole  proprietor  of  this 
enterprise.  Since  then  he  has  managed  it  personally,  making  it  a  very 
successful  business,  and  in  1903  removed  to  his  present  location  at  the  corner 
of  Adams  street  and  New  York  avenue.  Mr.  Gordon  has  executive  ability 
of  an  unusually  high  order,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers,  and  is  now 
a  director  of  the  Rochester  Trust  Company. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Gordon  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but  he  has 
been  a  staunch  Republican  since  1896.  He  served  for  twelve  years  as  a 
school  director,  is  now  (1914)  serving  another  six-year  term  in  the  same 
office,  and  has  been  honored  by  election  to  the  presidency  of  this  honorable 


^^^k.^:.^  <^^^c^^:^^. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  769 

body.  As  borough  auditor  he  served  in  1892-93-94,  and  he  was  at  one 
time  Republican  candidate  for  the  assembly,  and  made  a  brave  fight  for  the 
office,  declining  the  endorsement  of  the  liquor  interests.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  state  convention  held  in  Harrisburgh  in  1908.  His  fraternal 
affiliations  are  also  of  an  important  nature.  He  is  a  member  of  Rochester 
Lodge,  No.  229,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ;  Eureka  Chapter,  No.  167, 
Royal  Arch  Masons ;  Beaver  Valley  Commandery,  No.  84,  Knights  Templar ; 
Gourgas  Lodge  of  Perfection,  thirty-second  degree,  Ancient  and  Accepted 
Scottish  Rite;  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle;  Independent  Order  of  Ameri- 
cans, but  perhaps  his  most  important  work  in  fraternal  circles  has  been  done 
in  connection  with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  For  a  period  of  sixteen 
years  he  served  as  clerk  of  the  local  camp  of  this  order,  and  also  clerk  of 
the  head  camp  in  Jurisdiction  G,  comprising  the  states  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  four  years,  and  later  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  head  coun- 
cil and  served  on  the  law  committee  of  the  Sovereign  Camp,  1909  to  191 1. 
He  has  passed  nearly  all  the  state  chairs.  Under  his  leadership 
the  local  camp  grew  from  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  to 
five  hundred  and  fifty,  this  now  being  one  of  the  largest  camps  in  the  state. 
He  is  now  district  manager  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Gordon  is  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Pharmaceutical  Association. 

Mr.  Gordon  married,  in  1890,  Emma  E.  Pregenzer,  of  New  Brighton, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Children:  Walter  A.  and  Sarah  A.  Walter 
A.  is  assistant  to  his  father;  he  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pitts- 
burgh, department  of  pharmacy,  class  of  1914;  he  is  a  noted  athlete  and 
holds  several  medals,  winning  second  place  in  the  Great  Marathon  held  in 
the  Exposition  Building  in  Pittsburgh,  1908.  Mr.  Gordon  and  his  family  are 
members  of  Grace  Lutheran  Church,  he  serving  as  a  member  of  the  church 
council. 


Scotch-Irish  ancestry  is  attributed  to  the  Magaw  family  of 
MAGAW     Pennsylvania,  founded  in  that  state  upon  the  arrival  of  the 

father  of  James  Magaw  from  Ireland,  his  home,  who  died 
in  Pennsylvania  at  an  age  considerably  more  than  four  score  years. 

(II)  James  Magaw  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
the  owner  of  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  North  Sewickley 
township,  which  he  cultivated  until  his  death.  He  married  Eunice  Dye, 
born  in  North  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  died  there 
aged  seventy-nine  years.  Children  of  James  and  Eunice  (Dye)  Magaw: 
I.  Samuel,  for  many  years  a  well-known  attorney  of  Beaver,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 2.  David,  of  whom  further.  3.  Daniel,  a  stone  mason  in  early 
life,  later  a  farmer.  4.  James,  a  farmer.  5.  John,  deceased,  a  farmer.  6. 
Enoch,  a  farmer,  moved  to  Indiana  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Indian- 
polls.  7.  Eunice,  married  Lucien  Fombelle  and  lived  in  North  Sewickley 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  8.  Delilah,  married  Alexander 
Fombelle. 


770  PENNSYLVANIA 

(III)  David  Magaw,  son  of  James  and  Eunice  (Dye)  Magaw,  was 
born  in  North  Sewickley  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  i8, 
1820,  died  in  Beaver  Falls,  same  county,  April  28,  1893.  His  boyhood  was 
spent  on  the  home  farm  in  North  Sewickley  township,  and  he  obtained  an 
excellent  education,  partly  through  instruction  in  the  public  schools,  mainly 
through  solitary  reading  and  study,  both  of  which  he  was  very  fond. 
Discovering  that  he  possessed  remarkable  aptness  in  communicating  his 
knowledge  and  ideas  to  others  he  began  teaching,  and  was  rewarded  by 
such  excellent  results  that  he  continued  as  a  school  teacher  for  fourteen 
years.  In  1850  he  entered  the  mercantile  business  in  New  Brighton,  general 
merchandise  being  his  line,  and  in  this  he  continued  for  three  years,  for  the 
six  following  years  being  proprietor  of  a  saw  mill  and  owner  of  a  lumber 
yard.  Retiring  from  the  last  named  business  he  was  for  two  years  rail- 
road division  superintendent,  then  became  proprietor  of  the  Park  Hotel,  of 
New  Brighton,  which  he  established,  in  1890  selling  this  property  and  be- 
coming owner  of  the  Central  Hotel  of  Beaver  Falls,  which  he  conducted 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  farmer  for  three  years,  from  1884  until  1887, 
having  purchased  a  farm  of  vast  acreage  in  Macon  county,  near  Decatur, 
Illinois.  During  the  last  few  months  of  the  Civil  War  he  was  a  member  of 
a  regiment  of  volunteers,  but  his  regiment  was  never  pressed  into  active 
service.  With  his  wife,  he  held  membership  in  the  Baptist  church,  and 
although  never  an  office  holder  he  was  a  sturdy  champion  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  a  man  of  cheery,  genial  nature,  and  as  a  hotel  proprietor  was 
famous  for  the  entertainment  he  afforded  his  guests  and  the  high  plane 
upon  which  his  house  was  maintained.  He  married,  May  21,  1856,  Elvira 
Dicky  Braden,  born  in  the  locality  now  known  as  College  Hill,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  October  17,  1834,  died  July  17,  1861,  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  (McEntyre)  Braden.  Children  of  David  and  Elvira 
Dicky  (Braden)  Magaw:  i.  James  A.,  born  March  17,  1857,  died  unmar- 
ried, January  24,  1885.  2.  John  McEntyre,  of  whom  further.  3.  Davis,  born 
December  9,  1859,  died  February  4,  1861. 

(IV)  John  McEntyre  Magaw,  second  of  the  three  sons  and  children 
of  David  and  Elvira  Dicky  (Braden)  Magaw,  was  born  in  New  Brighton, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  27,  1858.  In  that  place  he  spent  his  youth, 
attending  the  public  schools  until  his  entrance  into  Beaver  College.  During 
the  three  years  that  the  family  residence  was  in  Macon  county,  Illinois,  he 
assisted  his  father  in  discharging  the  duties  of  the  management  of  their 
large  estate,  and  he  also  employed  himself  in  various  ways  in  the  hotel  at 
New  Brighton.  In  1890,  when  his  father  became  owner  of  the  Central 
Hotel  of  Beaver  Falls,  John  M.  Magaw  was  admitted  into  partnership,  and 
since  the  death  of  his  parent  in  1893  he  has  been  sole  proprietor  and  mana- 
ger of  the  hotel,  which  is  located  at  the  intersection  of  Sixth  avenue.  Third 
avenue,  and  Sixth  street.  The  hotel  is  of  red  brick,  four  stories,  and  its 
rooms  are  commodious,  tastefully  furnished,  and  comfortable.  Mr.  Magaw 
has  inherited  his  father's  genius  for  pleasing  and  satisfying  the  guests  of  his 


BEAVER   COUNTY  771 

house,  and  the  hotel  has  gained  rather  than  lost  prestige  among  establish- 
ments of  a  similar  nature  in  Beaver  Falls.  In  or  outside  of  business  rela- 
tions Mr.  Magaw  is  a  kindly,  courteous  gentleman,  whose  services  are  always 
at  the  disposal  of  his  many  friends,  and  a  fair,  honest,  straightforward 
method  of  procedure  is  a  marked  characteristic  in  all  that  he  does,  in 
business  or  in  private  life.  Political  office  has  never  been  one  of  his  desires 
or  aspirations  and  the  support  he  has  given  the  Republican  party  has  been 
without  thought  or  hope  of  return.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Mr.  Magaw  married,  in  February,  1895,  Margaret  Smith,  daughter  of 
Pym  Kuhn,  her  father  having  been  at  one  time  a  prominent  attorney  of 
Beaver,  Pennsylvania,  a  position  her  brother  now  holds.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Magaw  are  the  parents  of  one  daughter,  Eunice  Gray,  born  December  18, 
1897,  a  student  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania,  high  school. 


The  Maloney  family,  numerous  in  the  British  Isles,  has  in 
MALONEY  its  adopted  home,  the  United  States,  also  gained  a  strong 
footing,  branches  thereof  being  found  in  nearly  all  sec- 
tions of  the  country.  The  branch  of  those  who  are  herein  recorded  is  not 
numerous  in  this  land,  the  latter  half  of  the  nineteenth  century  seeing  the 
first  member  come  to  the  United  States.  This  was  James  Maloney,  born  in 
the  northern  part  of  England  in  1849,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  as  a  young 
man,  immediately  identifying  himself  with  the  steel  industry  of  that  state. 
He  was  an  employee  in  the  steel  mills  at  Homestead,  Pennsylvania,  before 
they  became  the  property  of  the  United  States  Steel  Company,  and  there 
continued  after  the  Carnegie  interests  had  assumed  control.  He  now  lives 
retired,  making  his  home  near  the  scene  of  his  earlier  labors,  his  residence 
being  in  Munhall,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  faith  is  the  Roman 
Catholic,  and  his  political  sympathies  are  with  the  Democratic  party.  He 
married  Mary  Foley,  born  in  the  northern  part  of  England  in  1853.  Chil- 
dren: Hannah,  John  F.,  of  whom  further,  James,  Thomas,  Catherine,  Wil- 
liam, Joseph,  Edward. 

John  F.  Maloney,  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Foley)  Maloney,  was  born 
in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  19,  1877.  His  boyhood  home  was 
Homestead,  their  residence  there  being  necessitated  by  his  father's  busi- 
ness interests,  and  in  that  town  he  attended  the  public  schools.  After  com- 
pleting his  studies  his  first  business  venture  was  in  the  wholesale  confec- 
tionery line,  which  he  followed  in  Allegheny  under  the  name  of  the  American 
Candy  Company.  He  continued  in  this  business  for  three  years,  abandoning 
it  in  favor  of  real  estate  dealings  in  Homestead,  in  connection  with  which 
he  sold  fire  insurance.  Homestead  was  the  field  of  his  operations  until 
1903,  when  he  came  to  Ambridge,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
has  since  been  located.  His  business  remains  the  same,  and  he  is  the  owner 
of  considerable  real  estate  in  that  place,  some  of  which  he  rents,  the  re- 
mainder being  held  for  sale.    During  his  Ambridge  residence  he  has  been 


772  PENNSYLVANIA 

the  promoter  of  several  operations  involving  numerous  dwellings,  all  of 
excellent  grade  and  such  as  made  an  appeal  to  a  highly  desirable  class  of 
citizens.  Fire  insurance  is  still  a  branch  of  his  business  and  his  agency- 
protects  many  of  the  city's  buildings.  Mr.  Maloney  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
Ambridge  Savings  and  Trust  Company.  Progressive  and  modern  in  his 
ideas  and  mode  of  business,  genial  and  agreeable  of  manner,  keen  and  de- 
cisive in  dealings  with  his  fellows,  his  likeable  personal  attributes  have 
done  much  toward  making  his  business  of  its  present  generous  dimensions. 
Honor  and  integrity  form  the  major  part  of  his  business  code,  it  being  diffi- 
cult to  overestimate  their  component  values  in  a  structure  such  as  he  has 
erected  among  his  co-workers  and  competitors.  A  Republican  in  politics, 
he  confines  his  activities  in  matters  public  and  political  to  the  casting  of  his 
vote,  and  his  religious  faith  is  the  Roman  Catholic.  He  holds  membership 
in  Pittsburgh  Council,  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  Saint  Veronica's  Holy 
Name  Society. 

Mr.  Maloney  married,  in  September,  1906,  Mary  E.  McKay,  born  in 
Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Michael  McKay,  formerly  of 
Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  now  living  in  California. 


Prominence   in   the   industrial    world    of    one   country   and 
EARNER     eminence  in  the  educational  and  religious  life  of  another  is 

the  fortune  that  has  fallen  to  two  generations  of  Earners,  the 
lot  of  one  cast  in  Germany,  that  of  the  other  in  the  United  States.  This 
record  has  as  its  first  object  of  mention  Carl  Earner,  born  in  Germany  in 
1840,  a  manufacturer  of  leather.  He  was  connected  with  this  industry  all 
of  his  life,  and  in  addition  to  the  manufacture  of  his  product  was  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  large  wholesale  house  distributing  the  same.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  faith  their  children  were 
reared.  He  married  Augusta  Otto,  born  in  Germany  in  1848.  She  came 
of  a  family  all  of  whom  were  educators,  minister  and  professors.  Children : 
Robert,  of  whom  further;  Paul,  Martha,  Elizabeth,  a  child  who  died  in 
infancy;  Ernest,  William,  Margaret.  Carl  Earner's  death  occurred  in  1903, 
he  having  survived  his  wife  ten  years. 

(H)  Rev.  Robert  Earner,  eldest  of  the  eight  children  of  Carl  and 
Augusta  (Otto)  Earner,  was  born  in  Germany,  October  10,  1866.  He  there 
obtained  his  education,  attending  the  public  schools,  and  for  his  more  ad- 
vanced studies  attending  the  Latin  School  and  Academy  of  Prussia,  at 
Schivelbein,  Pommem.  At  the  completion  of  his  classical  education  he 
entered  the  Kropp  Theological  Seminary  at  Schleswig,  where  he  finished 
the  course  prescribed  for  ministers.  He  then  came  to  Harrietsville,  Ohio, 
and  became  the  pastor  of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  continuing  in  that 
field  for  three  years,  in  1891  accepting  a  similar  position  in  Kittanning, 
Armstrong  county,  Pennsylvania.  While  in  Kittanning  he  began  his  work 
along  educational  lines  by  becoming  principal  of  tlie  Academy  at  that  place, 
and  was  so  engaged,  in  connection  with  his  pastoral  work,  until  1906,  when 


i/?o.u^/2^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  773 

he  came  to  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  as  pastor  of  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  Church.  Here  he  remains  to  the  present  time  and,  as  in  Kittan- 
ning,  he  has  added  scholastic  duties  to  those  of  the  church,  having  been  a 
professor  in  Beaver  College,  and  for  the  last  two  years  instructor  in  German 
in  the  Rochester  high  school.  His  value  to  the  institution  with  which  he  is 
identified  at  the  present  time  is  immeasurable,  his  complete  mastery  of  his 
native  tongue  and  his  familiar  knowledge  of  all  of  the  idioms  so  bewildering 
to  a  teacher  who  has  been  compelled  to  study  ceaselessly  for  his  knowledge, 
give  him  unsurpassed  prestige  as  an  instructor.  His  broad  culture  along 
other  lines  and  his  intimacy  with  other  scholarly  pursuits  furthers  his 
progress  toward  the  goal  of  the  ideal  teacher,  and  the  results  he  obtains  from 
his  classes  is  gratifying  in  the  extreme,  both  to  the  students  benefited  and 
to  those  whose  interest  it  is  to  guard  the  welfare  of  the  institution.  Rev. 
Bamer's  work  among  the  youth  of  Rochester  lends  to  his  ecclesiastical  value 
to  the  community,  and  were  his  achievements  confined  to  but  one  field  or 
the  other  his  life  would  be  indeed  well  spent.  He  is  an  earnest,  inspired  and 
eloquent  preacher,  having  a  deep  and  firm  conviction  in  the  doctrines  he  ex- 
pounds, and  preaches  with  a  heart-felt  care  for  his  parishioners.  He  does 
not  confine  his  labors  in  their  behalf  to  weekly  orations  from  the  pulpit,  but 
in  their  need  or  extremity  none  ever  lacks  his  aid,  lighting  the  darkness, 
explaining  the  misunderstood,  and  freshening  the  faith  of  those  who  had 
begun  to  doubt  the  omniscience  and  mercy  of  an  all-seeing  Providence.  This 
is  the  place  that  Rev.  Barner  has  made  for  himself  in  the  Rochester  com- 
munity, this  the  outline  of  the  richly  rewarded  labors  in  which  he  daily 
engages.  In  19 13  he  passed  several  months  in  visiting  his  homeland  and  in 
a  tour  of  Switzerland,  returning  from  his  most  enjoyable  vacation  invig- 
orated and  strengthened  for  the  resumption  of  his  duties  which  he  has 
since  carried  forward  with  fresh  enthusiasm.  He  inclines  toward  sympathy 
with  the  principles  of  the  Republican  platform,  but  has  never  been  actively 
associated  with  any  political  party. 

He  married,  in  1890,  Mary  Lauer,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Kloss) 
Lauer,  born  in  Warner,  Washington  county,  Ohio,  January  10,  1871,  died 
in  Rochester,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  14,  1907.  Her  parents 
were  born  in  Germany  and  early  in  their  married  life  came  to  Washington 
county,  Ohio,  where  their  deaths  occurred.  Children  of  Rev.  Robert  and 
Mary  (Lauer)  Barner,  all  born  in  Kittanning,  Armstrong  county,  Penn- 
sylvania: I.  Robert  Paul,  bom  November  15,  1891 ;  educated  in  music  at 
Beaver  College,  from  which  he  graduated  with  degree  of  M.  B.  and  M.  M. ; 
Geneva  College;  took  a  post-graduate  course  in  the  University  of  Chicago; 
now  Professor  of  Music  in  Beaver  College.  2.  Luther  W.,  born  April  10, 
1893 ;  a  graduate  of  the  Rochester  high  school,  and  Geneva  College ;  now  a 
senior  in  Washington  and  Jeflferson  College,  Washington,  Pennsylvania. 
3.  Armin  K.,  born  September  4,  1896 ;  a  student  in  the  Rochester  high  school. 


774  PENNSYLVANIA 

The  Kinney  family  which  is  now  so  prominently  represented 
KINNEY     in   Beaver  county,   Pennsylvania,    probably    came    to    this 

country  either  from  Scotland  or  Ireland.  They  were  located 
at  first  in  various  parts  of  New  England,  and  from  there  branched  out  to 
other  sections. 

(I)  Nathan  Kinney  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and  from  there  mi- 
grated to  Kinsman,  Ohio,  where  he  became  occupied  with  farming.  He 
married  Ann  Fry,  probably  a  native  of  Kinsman. 

(II)  John  Kinney,  son  of  Nathan  and  Ann  (Fry)  Kinney,  was  bom  in 
Kinsman,  Ohio,  in  1847,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  February, 
1910.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Kinsman,  and  later  established 
himself  in  the  lumber  business,  partly  in  Ohio  and  partly  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  removed  to  Forest  Grove,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1895,  and 
to  Beaver  county  in  the  same  state  in  1910.  Mr.  Kinney  married,  July  3, 
1869,  Hannah  Maria  Pennell,  bom  in  Austintown,  Ohio.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Sarah  (Oliver)  Pennell,  she  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  he 
born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  he  was  four- 
teen years  of  age.  They  located  in  Austintown,  Ohio.  The  maternal  grand- 
parents of  Mrs.  Kinney  were  Andrew  and  Belle  Oliver.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kin- 
ney have  had  children :  Albert  Milton,  see  forward ;  John  Prosser,  George, 
Frederick  Alvin,  Emma  Mary.  They  are  all  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

(III)  Albert  Milton  Kinney,  son  of  John  and  Hannah  Maria  (Pen- 
nell) Kinney,  was  born  in  Kinsman,  Ohio,  May  28,  1871.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  both  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  attending  the  latter 
but  a  short  time.  For  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  a  contractor 
but  abandoned  this  in  order  to  become  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
lumber  business,  an  association  which  was  continued  until  1901.  At  that 
time  he  established  himself  in  the  same  line  independently,  with  his  head- 
quarters at  Pittsburgh.  Two  years  later  he  organized  a  corporation  which 
bore  the  name  of  The  A.  M.  Kinney  Lumber  Company,  Mr.  Kinney  hold- 
ing the  office  of  general  manager  and  treasurer.  The  company  passed  out 
of  existence  in  January,  1912,  when  Mr.  Kinney  bought  out  the  entire 
stock,  and  has  since  conducted  it  as  a  private  enterprise,  but  retaining  the 
corporation  name.  He  is  also  extensively  interested  in  oil  enterprises.  He 
resided  at  Forest  Grove,  Allegheny  county,  until  1909,  when  he  removed 
to  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased  in  1908  in  Hopewell  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  There  he  has  a  fine  country  home,  and  also  a  fine 
stud  of  racing  horses,  which  is  one  of  the  especial  pleasures  of  Mr.  Kinney. 
In  national  politics  Mr.  Kinney  is  a  staunch  Democrat,  but  locally  he  is  an 
Independent.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Kinney  married,  March  27,  1894,  Sarah  R.  Whittier,  of  Smithfield, 
Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  had  children:  Dorothea  Maria, 
Frederick  Lester,  Helen  May. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  775 

Representatives  of  the  Keeler  family  came  to  America  at 
KEELER  an  early  date,  and  for  a  number  of  generations  they  have 
shown  mechanical  ability  of  a  more  than  ordinary  degree  of 
excellence. 

(I)  Edward  Lockwood  Keeler  was  born  in  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
died  at  Beaver  Falls,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  1909.  He  early  showed 
decided  mechanical  genius,  and  as  his  parents  died  while  he  was  still  a 
young  child,  he  was  taken  to  Pittsburgh  and  there  worked  in  various  shops 
as  a  machinist.  Finally  he  rose  to  the  position  of  an  inspector  in  Graft's 
Axe  Works,  and  in  1867,  when  the  Joseph  Graft  Company  removed  their 
plant  to  Beaver  Falls,  Beaver  county,  Mr.  Keeler  went  with  them  as  fore- 
man, a  position  he  held  for  many  years.  He  had  a  sister,  Deborah,  who 
lived  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  an  uncle,  William  Keeler,  a  very  wealthy 
man,  who  also  lived  in  Brooklyn.  He  was  of  a  quiet  and  retiring  disposition 
and  never  spoke  much  of  his  family.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Keeler  married,  while  living  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Sarah  Ann  Myers  (see  Myers  H),  and  they  had  children:  William 
E.,  of  further  mention;  John  M.,  lives  in  New  Brighton,  is  a  foreman  at 
the  wire  mills  in  Fallston,  and  married  Laura  Welsh ;  Emma,  unmarried, 
lives  at  Beaver  Falls ;  Cora,  married  William  E.  Boyce,  lives  in  New  Castle, 
Pennsylvania;  Charles,  unmarried,  lives  in  Beaver  Falls.  Mrs.  Keeler 
died  in  February,  1912. 

(H)  William  E.  Keeler,  son  of  Edward  Lockwood  and  Sarah  Ann 
(Myers)  Keeler,  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  July  8,  1857.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Allegheny  until  he  was  nine  years  of  age, 
and  then  devoted  himself  to  mechanical  work,  for  which  he  was  naturally 
gifted.  His  first  position  was  with  the  Newmyer  &  Graft  Hinge  Manu- 
facturing Company,  where  he  served  his  apprenticeship  and  became  a 
journeyman  mechanic.  When  the  factory  removed  to  Beaver  Falls  in  1867 
he  went  with  it,  and  remained  with  this  concern  until  1879,  by  which  time 
he  had  become  a  mechanic  of  unusual  ability.  He  then  formed  a  connection 
with  his  uncle's  firm,  the  H.  M.  Myers'  Company,  shovel  manufacturers, 
and  filled  the  position  of  engineer  for  this  firm  until  1893,  when  he  was 
appointed  master  mechanic  of  the  company,  an  office  he  is  still  filling  with 
marked  executive  ability.  Since  Mr.  Keeler  was  first  associated  with  this 
firm  the  name  has  been  changed  to  that  of  the  Ames  Shovel  and  Tool  Com- 
pany, but  his  position  has  remained  unchanged.  When  running  at  full 
capacity  this  company  employs  in  the  neighborhood  of  two  hundred  men, 
and  Mr.  Keeler  has  full  control  of  these.  He  is  recognized  as  an  expert 
in  his  line,  and  has  invented  and  patented  an  electric  level  shovel,  selling 
the  patent  rights  to  the  company  in  whose  interests  he  has  been  so  efficiently 
working.  He  has  frequently  received  advantageous  oflFers  from  other  con- 
cerns, but  is  true  to  his  allegiance  to  the  company  with  which  he  has  so 
long  a  time  been  associated.  He  owns  the  house  in  which  he  lives.  No. 
1317  Third  avenue,  Beaver  Falls,  as  also  a  number  of  other  houses  in  the 


776  PENNSYLVANIA 

city.  He  is  Republican  in  political  opinion,  and  a  member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Protective  Home  Circle. 

Mr.  Keeler  married  Mary  Catherine  Lozier,  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, now  deceased;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Edward  L.  Lozier,  also  de- 
ceased, who  was  for  many  years  engineer  on  a  river  boat,  and  lived  at 
Beaver  Falls.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keeler  had  children:  Eva  H.,  unmarried, 
lives  with  her  parents ;  Edward  L.,  a  machinist,  lives  in  Beaver  Falls ;  Ida 
M.,  married  R.  F.  Alstman,  lives  above  Pittsburgh. 
(The  Myers  Line.) 

(I)  Henry  Milton  Myers  was  born  in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  of  Ger- 
man descent,  and  there  grew  to  maturity.  About  1800  he  migrated  with  his 
family  to  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  about  four 
miles  east  of  Columbiana.  At  that  time  the  country  in  that  section  was 
primeval  forest,  and  Indians  as  well  as  wild  animals  were  both  numerous 
and  dangerous.  He  cleared  the  land,  and  by  industry  and  economy  died 
a  comparatively  wealthy  man,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  He  and  his 
family  were  of  the  Lutheran  denomination  in  religious  belief.     Mr.  Myers 

married,  before  he  "came  over  the  mountains,"  Mary  ,  also  born  in 

Eastern  Pennsylvania  of  German  descent,  and  they  had  children:  John, 
who  became  a  farmer  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio;  Henry,  had  a  farm 
near  the  homestead  in  Ohio,  later  removing  to  Elkhart  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  also  located  on  a  farm;  Joseph,  studied  medicine  and  was  a 
physician  at  Cary,  Ohio ;  Noah,  a  physician  in  practice  at  Erie,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Mary,  married  Levi  Jennings,  and  lived  on  a  farm  in  Columbiana 

county,  Ohio;  Susan,  married  Rickabroat,  and  lived  in  Ohio;  David, 

lived  on  a  farm  in  Ohio;  Samuel,  of  further  mention;  Jacob,  lived  on  a 
farm   in   Ohio. 

(II)  Dr.  Samuel  Myers,  son  of  Henry  Milton  and  Mary  Myers,  was 
born  near  Columbiana,  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  1806,  died  in  Elkhart, 
Indiana,  1861.  His  early  years  were  passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  a 
farmer's  son,  and  he  then  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade.  He  went  to 
Jamestown,  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  establish  himself  in  his  call- 
ing there,  and  while  there  made  the  acquaintance  of  several  doctors  there. 
They  became  interested  in  the  intelligence  and  bright  wit  of  the  young 
man  and  induced  him  to  abandon  his  trade  and  take  up  the  study  of 
medicine.  For  some  years  he  studied  in  the  offices  of  Dr.  Gibson  and  Dr. 
Clark,  and  then  his  father  offered  him  all  the  profits  of  the  farm  if  he  would 
come  there  and  take  charge  of  it  and  him.  Considering  it  his  duty  to  com- 
ply with  the  earnest  request  of  his  father,  Samuel  Myers  returned  to  the 
homestead  farm  in  Columbiana  county,  and  remained  there  until  the  death 
of  his  father.  He  then  removed  to  Elkhart,  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  and 
there  established  himself  in  the  practice  of  the  medical  profession,  with 
which  he  was  successfully  identified  until  his  untimely  and  deeply  deplored 
death.  He  was  thrown  from  his  horse  and  injured,  and  before  he  had  fully 
recovered  from  these  hurts  he  succumbed  to  an  attack  of  typhoid  fever, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  T!^ 

which  his  undermined  constitution  could  not  withstand.  He  was  tall  of 
stature,  being  more  than  six  feet  in  height,  and  stately  and  well  propor- 
tioned. Dr.  Myers  married,  in  Jamestown,  Matilda  Muntz,  born  in  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  1821,  died  1890.  She  was  robbed  of  both  of  her  parents 
by  death  before  she  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  then  made  her  home  with 
her  sister,  Mrs.  John  Heffley,  near  Jamestown,  Pennsylvania.  Here  she 
met  Dr.  Myers  and  married  him  when  she  was  only  sixteen  years  of  age. 
Her  only  sister  was  the  Mary  who  married  John  Heffley,  and  her  only 
brother  was  William,  who  lived  in  Baltimore,  M'aryland.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Myers  had  children:  i.  William,  who  died  young.  2.  Henry  Milton,  located 
in  Beaver  Falls,  where  he  died  a  very  wealthy  man ;  he  was  the  founder  of 
the  H.  M.  Myers  Shovel  and  Tool  Company,  which  later  became  merged 
in  the  Ames  Shovel  and  Tool  Company;  his  widow,  Ella  (Miller)  Myers, 
lives  in  Detroit,  Michigan.  3.  Noah,  married  Mary  Truby;  worked  with 
his  brother,  Henry  Milton,  and  died  in  Beaver  Falls.  4.  Joseph,  died  in 
infancy.  5.  Mary,  widow  of  John  W.  Fry;  lives  at  No.  945  Western  ave- 
nue, North  Side,  Pittsburgh.  6.  Sarah  Ann,  married  Mr.  Keeler  (see 
Keeler  I).  7.  Elmira,  now  deceased;  married  Clark  Hill;  lived  at  Brook- 
ville,  Pennsylvania.  8.  Matilda,  married  William  Matthews;  lived  at 
Beaver  Falls,  both  deceased.  9.  John,  enlisted  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
and  served  throughout  the  Civil  War,  is  now  deceased;  married  Jeannette 
Mayer,  also  deceased,  and  lived  at  Beaver  Falls. 


An  interesting  point  that  would  be  immediately  observed 
HOFFMANN     by  one  reading  a  record  of  the  Hoffmann  family  herein 

chronicled  is  the  continued  use  of  the  name  George  for 
the  eldest  son  of  each  generation.  Another  fact  that  is  unusual  throughout 
so  long  a  period  of  time  is  that  in  each  case  the  eldest  child  has  been  a  son, 
so  that  the  first  born  of  each  generation  has  been  a  George.  The  George 
with  whom  this  record  begins  is  George  Von  Hoffmann,  who  held  the  title 
of  major  in  the  army  of  Napoleon  I.  In  the  host  of  that  commander  he 
had  risen  from  the  rank  of  private  and  held  an  honored  position,  standing 
high  in  the  estimation  of  his  leader.  He  was  one  of  the  vast  army  of  more 
than  half  a  million  men  who  invaded  Russia  under  Napoleon's  command, 
and  penetrating  as  far  as  Moscow  were  there  compelled  by  famine  and 
suffering  to  retrace  their  steps,  more  than  three-fourths  of  the  gallant  band 
that  had  so  boldly  set  out  upon  what  they  were  confident  would  be  a  con- 
tinuation of  their  successful  compaigns  falling  by  the  wayside,  victims  either 
of  exposure  or  the  deadly  attacks  of  the  Cossacks.  George  Von  Hoffmann 
was  one  of  the  survivors  of  this  disastrous  retreat,  and  died  in  Bavaria, 
his  birthplace. 

(II)  George  (2)  Hoffmann,  son  of  George  (i)  Von  Hoffmann,  was 
born  in  Germany,  as  was  his  wife,  and  there  lived  until  1845,  when  after 
his  marriage  he  came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Allegheny  City 
(Pittsburgh,  North  Side),  Pennsylvania.    He  later  moved  to  Monongahela 


778  PENNSYLVANIA 

City,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  coming  there  in  1858,  and  there 
died  in  1898,  aged  eighty-one  years,  his  wife's  death  occurring  in  that 
place  five  years  later.  He  married  Barbara  Hoffmann,  in  all  probability  a 
relative  of  his.  Among  their  children  was  George  Andrew,  of  whom 
further. 

(HI)  George  Andrew  Hoffmann,  son  of  George  (2)  and  Barbara 
(Hoffmann)  Hoffmann,  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  in  1845,  died 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1893.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  Wesleyan 
College,  of  Delavan,  Ohio,  and  at  Washington  and  Jefferson  College.  After 
receiving  his  degree  from  the  latter  institution  he  creditably  passed  the 
examinations  for  admission  to  the  bars  of  Allegheny  and  Washington  coun- 
ties, and  from  that  time  until  his  death  steadily  gained  in  prestige  and 
reputation  among  his  legal  brethren,  two  years  prior  to  his  death,  1890-91, 
filling  the  position  of  district  attorney.  His  power  and  influence  as  an 
advocate  was  known  throughout  the  state,  and  few  were  the  adverse  deci- 
sions that  fell  to  his  lot.  Forceful,  able  and  convincing  in  argument,  in  the 
presentation  of  his  cases  he  combined  direct  strength  of  statement  with  elo- 
quence of  expression,  his  appeal  being  always  to  the  reason  rather  than  the 
sentiments  of  his  hearers.  He  spoke  and  acted  from  a  close  familiarity 
with  all  of  the  complex  and  perplexing  technicalities  of  our  legal  code,  his 
clients  being  benefited  by  his  years  of  assiduous  study.  He  supported,  with 
the  influence  a  highly  regarded  legal  light  always  wields,  the  Republican 
party,  and  belonged  to  Henry  M.  Phillips  Lodge,  No.  645,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons.  He  married  Margaret  Aughindobler,  born  in  Germany, 
now  living  in  Monogahela  City,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  at  the 
home  of  her  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Adam  and 
Elizabeth  (Zeh)  Aughindobler,  both  natives  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1852,  settling  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. In  that  place  he  was  a  farmer,  in  1872  making  his  home  in  Monon- 
gahela  City,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  in  1908,  aged 
seventy-eight  years,  his  wife's  death  occurring  in  1913,  when  she  had  attained 
the  unusual  age  of  ninety-three  years.  Children  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
(Zeh)  Aughindobler:  i.  Margaret,  of  previous  mention,  married  George 
Andrew  Hoffmann.  2.  Jane,  married  James  Dickey,  of  Monongahela  City, 
Pennsylvania.  3.  Anna,  married  John  Starb,  of  Monongahela  City,  Penn- 
sylvania. Children  of  George  Andrew  and  Margaret  (Aughindobler)  Hoff- 
mann: I.  George  Andrew,  of  whom  further.  2.  Joseph  Adolphus,  a  resi- 
dent of  Monongahela  City,  Pennsylvania.  3.  Mary  Elizabeth,  married  Dr. 
George  H.  Murphy,  a  physician  of  Monongahela  City,  Pennsylvania. 

(IV)  George  Andrew  (2)  Hoffmann,  son  of  George  Andrew  (i)  and 
Margaret  (Aughindobler)  Hoffmann,  was  bom  in  Monogahela  City,  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  November  5,  1877.  His  public  school  educa- 
tion was  completed  in  1896,  when  he  was  graduated  from  the  Monongahela 
high  school,  after  which  he  enrolled  at  Curry  University,  of  Pittsburgh, 
where  he  took  a  business  course.     Finishing  this  course  of  study  he  pre- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  779 

pared  at  Pittsburgh  Academy  for  entrance  at  Washington  and  Jefferson 
College,  later  matriculating  at  that  latter  institution.  He  never  received 
his  degree  from  Washington  and  Jefferson,  being  compelled  to  leave  the 
college  and  enter  business.  His  first  venture  was  in  the  hardware  business 
in  Monongahela  City,  in  partnersip  with  a  cousin,  where  he  remained  for 
three  years,  then  accepted  a  position  with  the  Crucible  Steel  Company  of 
America.  After  two  years'  service  with  this  company  he  became  identified 
with  the  Valley  Electrical  Company,  now  operating  under  the  name  of  the 
Beaver  Valley  Light  Company,  being  thus  employed  for  a  period  of  nine 
years.  His  next  field  was  the  automobile  business,  and  since  his  retirement 
therefrom  he  has  not  associated  himself  with  any  other  venture,  living  free 
from  all  business  cares  at  his  home  on  River  avenue,  a  handsome  residence 
-which  was  completed  for  his  use  in  1903.  Mr.  Hoffmann  afiiliated  with 
Rochester  Lodge,  No.  229,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  later  having  his 
membership  transferred  to  Woodlawn  Lodge,  No.  672.  In  that  fraternity 
he  holds  the  thirty-second  degree,  belonging  to  Pennsylvania  Consistory, 
Valley  of  Pittsburgh,  receiving  that  degree  November  17,  1905.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  Woodlawn  Lodge,  No.  1221,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks.  With  his  wife  he  is  a  communicant  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  Aliquippa. 

He  married,  in  1899,  Florence  McDonald,  born  in  Woodlawn,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  7,  1879,  daughter  of  Captain  David  Alexander  and  Mary 
Francis  (Woods)  McDonald,  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Children 
■of  George  Andrew  and  Florence  (McDonald)  Hoffmann:  i.  George  An- 
drew, Jr.,  born  March  25,  19CX5.    2.  John  Kenneth,  bom  January  15,  1907. 


In  its  German  home  this  family  claimed  as  members 
ESTERMYER    many  whose  pursuits  were  of  the  nature  that  have  given 

Germany  its  standing  as  one  of  the  foremost  of  manu- 
facturing nations,  while  still  others  clung  to  agricultural  lives  and  took  upon 
themselves  a  share  in  the  task  of  sustaining  those  of  the  first-named  class 
by  the  production  of  foodstuffs.  In  this  country  the  members  thereof  have 
been  identified  with  the  glass  manufacturing  industry,  one  of  the  present 
generation,  Louis  Joseph  Estermyer,  having  attained  an  influential  position 
in  the  public  life  of  his  locality.  The  seat  of  this  branch  of  the  family  in 
the  homeland  was  Byron,  and  it  was  in  this  division,  near  Metting,  in  Ger- 
many, that  Joseph  Estermyer  was  born,  February  5,  1801,  and  died  there, 
aged  sixty-five  years.  Agriculture  was  his  lifelong  occupation,  his  fertile 
farm  of  300  acres  supplying  the  family  with  a  comfortable  living,  as  their 
needs,  like  their  lives,  were  simple.  The  Catholic  church  was  that  to  which 
all  of  the  family  belonged,  the  faith  of  their  ancestors  transmitted  to  their 
descendants.  Joseph  and  Theresa  Estermyer  were  the  parents  of  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  all  but  one,  Alouis,  father  of  Louis  Joseph  Ester- 
myer, passing  their  entire  lives  in  Germany. 

(II)   Alouis  Estermyer,  son  of  Joseph  and  Theresa  Estermyer,  was 


78o  PENNSYLVANIA 

born  near  Metting,  Byron,  Germany,  county  Straubing,  June  lo,  1842,  died 
in  Beaver  Falls,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  15,  1908.  As  a  boy  he 
studied  in  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  in  young  manhood  found 
employment  upon  his  father's  farm,  later  serving  the  required  time  in  the 
German  army.  He  belonged  to  the  cavalry,  and  upon  his  discharge  received 
honorable  mention  for  his  unquestioning  subservience  to  the  orders  of  his 
superiors  as  a  private,  for  the  wisdom  that  governed  his  authority  as  he 
advanced  in  rank,  and  for  his  soldierly  conduct  during  his  term  of  service. 
Six  years  after  his  marriage  he  determined  to  emigrate  to  the  United  States, 
being  the  first  of  his  family  to  do  so.  He  accordingly  left  Germany,  March 
7,  1870,  on  the  steamer  "Rhine,"  accompanied  by  his  wife,  her  widowed 
mother,  and  two  children — Louis  and  John.  They  arrived  safe  at  Castle 
Garden,  New  York  City,  March  25,  1870,  after  a  voyage  of  eighteen  days  of 
stormy  weather.  It  being  Saturday,  they  could  not  land  until  Monday,  the 
27th,  on  which  day  at  4  p.  m.  they  left  for  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  arriv- 
ing there  on  the  29th  at  2  p.  m.  They  resided  in  Pittsburgh  for  ten  years, 
during  which  time  Mr.  Estermyer  was  employed  as  "teaser"  in  a  glass  fac- 
tory, an  operation  and  an  employee  that  have  passed  into  retirement  with 
the  invention  and  practical  adaptation  of  modern  and  improved  machinery. 
In  1879  a  universal  strike  of  glass-blowers  in  Pittsburgh  threw  him  out  of 
a  situation,  and  for  a  time  he  was  at  a  loss  as  to  what  employment  to  find, 
a  problem  he  solved  in  the  first  part  of  May  of  1880,  by  walking  thirty  miles 
to  Beaver  Falls,  there  obtaining  work  in  the  Co-operative  Glass  Works. 
Two  months  later,  on  July  28th,  he  moved  his  family  to  Beaver  Falls,  and 
was  there  employed  until  still  more  recent  inventions  made  it  possible  for 
manufacturers  of  glass  to  reduce  their  working  forces  to  still  less  propor- 
tions. In  his  later  years  he  became  a  night  watchman,  and  was  thus  en- 
gaged at  his  death.  He  was  a  devout,  faithful  Catholic,  and  one  of  the 
early  members  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  who  laid  the  foundation  for  its 
present  prosperity  by  their  whole-hearted  devotion  and  willing  self-sacrifice. 
He  was  married  in  Liberfing,  county  Straubing,  Germany,  March  17,  1864, 
to  Magdalena  Kine,  born  in  Ruzenbough,  Germany,  now  living  in  Beaver 
Falls,  Pennsylvania.  Children  of  Alouis  and  Magdalena  (Kine)  Ester- 
myer: I.  Louis  Joseph,  of  whom  further.  2.  John,  born  April  12,  1868, 
died  in  July,  1898;  a  glass  worker;  married  Bertha  Schell;  no  children.  3. 
Theresa,  died  aged  nine  years.  4-5-6-7.  Two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
died  in  infancy.  8.  Mary,  born  November  30,  1879;  married  William 
Beighley ;  their  residence  is  at  No.  2535  Eighth  avenue,  Beaver  Falls,  Penn- 
sylvania. 9.  Lena,  born  July  27,  1881 ;  married  Ernest  Lynn,  and  resides  at 
No.  mo  Sixth  avenue,  Beaver  Falls.  10.  Peter,  born  July  19,  1884;  an 
electrical  worker;  resides  in  Toledo,  Ohio;  married  to  Frances  Dickson. 
(Ill)  Louis  Joseph  Estermyer,  eldest  of  the  ten  children  of  Alouis  and 
Magdalena  (Kine)  Estermyer,  was  born  near  Ruzenbough,  county  of 
Straubing,  Germany,  January  31,  1865,  and  lived  in  that  country  until  five 
years  of  age,  when  he  was  brought  to  the  United  States  by  his  parents- 


c^^^o-cxaA^  y^'  (rU^^t/K^^^^<-^- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  781 

and  was  placed  in  St.  Michael's  Parochial  School  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  attended  this  institution  until  he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  when 
he  left  school  to  lend  his  efforts  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  family. 
His  first  employment  was  in  McCally's  Glass  Works,  28th  street,  Pitts- 
burgh, as  "carrying  over"  boy.  Here,  in  addition  to  performing  a  days 
labor  that  would  tire  any  youth,  even  one  of  his  rugged  constitution,  it  was 
necessary  for  him  to  walk  between  four  and  five  miles  to  and  from  work, 
morning  and  evening,  from  i8th  street,  South  Side,  to  28th  street,  Pitts- 
burgh, his  remuneration  being  the  sum  of  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  per 
day.  The  following  year  the  family  home  was  changed  to  the  corner  of 
28th  street  and  Smallman  street,  Pittsburgh,  where  they  resided  for  one 
year,  and  lived  on  South  Side,  Pittsburgh,  for  nine  years,  Mr.  Estermyer 
being  employed  during  that  time  in  various  glass  factories.  In  1880,  when 
he  went  with  his  father  to  Beaver  Falls,  he  began  a  connection  with  the 
Co-operative  Glass  Company  that  lasted  for  twenty-seven  years,  first  as 
"sticking-up"  boy  and  later  as  a  glass  presser,  in  which  latter  department 
he  became  most  skillful  and  adept,  continuing  as  such  until  his  retirement 
in  1907  from  glass  manufacturing.  Since  that  year  he  has  been  part  pro- 
prietor of  a  wholesale  liquor  store  on  Seventh  avenue,  Beaver  Falls,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Estermyer  &  Groth.  Mr.  Estermyer  has  always  been 
an  active  political  worker,  and  as  a  Democrat  served  one  term  as  council- 
man for  the  Fifth  Ward.  His  influence  among  his  countrymen  in  his 
district  is  strong,  and  he  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party  in  the  city.  In 
1894  he  was  a  Democratic  candidate  for  the  State  legislature,  and  was 
defeated,  although  he  made  a  valiant  fight  and  ran  far  ahead  of  his  ticket 
in  Beaver  Falls,  threatening  the  leaders  in  a  Republican  stronghold.  Mr. 
Estermyer  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
and  he  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Mutual  Benefit  Association. 

He  married.  May  7,  1890,  Sarah  Ellen  Gould,  born  at  Tiger  Flats, 
Wood  county.  West  Virginia.  Children:  i.  Lillian  Helena,  born  August 
24,  1891.  2.  Louis  Joseph  Jr.,  born  June  10,  1892.  3.  John  Thomas,  born 
February  10,  1894.  4.  Charles  Edward,  born  June  21,  1896.  5.  Sarah 
Ellen,  born  August  i,  1898,  lived  twenty-three  days,  weighed  one  pound. 
6.  Helen  Marie,  born  November  14,  1901.  7.  Florence  Beatrice,  born 
October  7,  1903.  8.  Clarence  Paul,  born  September  3,  1905.  9.  Richard 
Holt,  born  January  9,  1907.  10.  Sarah  Evelyn,  born  October  23,  1909. 
II.  Wilber  Howard  Gould,  born  September  5,  191 1. 

The  family  home  is  at  No.  2003  Fifth  avenue,  which  property  Mr. 
Estermyer  purchased   in    1902. 


Thomas  J.  Galvin,  a  prominent  citizen  of  New  Brighton, 
GALVIN     Pennsylvania,  is  of  Irish  parentage,  and  was  born  in  Beaver 

county,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  place  now  known  as  Highland 
Cut,  August  19,  1861.  The  paternal  grandparents  on  both  sides  of  the 
house  were  natives  of  Ireland,  and  came  from  that  country  to  America 


782  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  settled  at  Bridgewater,  Penn- 
sylvania. The  paternal  grandfather  was  a  laborer  and  remained  in  Bridge- 
water  until  his  death. 

Maurice  Galvin,  the  father  of  Thomas  J.  Galvin,  was  also  born  in 
Ireland  and  was  educated  there.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in 
1843,  and  like  his  father  was  a  laborer  in  Bridgewater  until  the  loss  of  a 
limb  disabled  him.  For  several  years  after  that  event  he  taught  school  at 
what  is  now  Cannelton,  Pennsylvania.  About  the  year  1859  he  removed 
to  New  Galilee,  Pennsylvania,  and  later  to  a  large  number  of  places, 
including  Highland  Cut,  where  Thomas  J.  Galvin  was  born,  Pittsburgh, 
and  finally  to  East  Palestine,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  in  1881.  He 
had  three  brothers,  all  of  whom  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War.  Maurice  Galvin  also  desired  to  enter  the  serv- 
ice, but  was  prevented  by  the  physical  disability  dependent  on  the  loss 
of  his  limb.  While  still  resident  in  Bridgewater  he  met  and  married 
Ann  Connell,  who  like  himself  had  come  from  Ireland  with  her  parents 
and  settled  there.  To  them  were  born  six  children,  as  follows:  Mary, 
Catherine,  John,  Thomas  J.,  Robert,  George. 

Thomas  J.  Galvin  was  educated  in  the  ninth  ward  school  in  the  city 
of  Pittsburgh,  and  later,  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  entered  the 
mines  at  Palestine,  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  there  six  years,  until  1881. 
He  then  obtained  a  position  as  fireman  on  the  Fort  Wayne  Railway,  a 
branch  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  and  has  remained  ever  since  in  the 
employ  of  the  latter.  He  lived  in  East  Palestine  until  the  death  of  his 
father,  and  then  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  and  worked  for  a  time  as  fireman 
on  the  Beaver  Falls  accommodation.  In  1887  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  engineer  on  a  through  freight,  and  in  1909  became  engineer  on  the  Beaver 
Falls  local,  a  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood 
of  Locomotive  Engineers. 

Mr.  Galvin  married,  December  16,  1886,  Anna  M.  Dunbar,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Ralph  M.,  who  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of  his 
birthplace,  attending  the  local  high  school  for  two  years,  and  finally  took 
a  four  years'  course  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  winning  the  degree 
of  D.D.S.  He  now  lives  at  home  and  is  a  practicing  dentist.  Mrs.  Galvin 
and  her  son  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 


The  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century  marked  the  introduction 
DREW     into  the  United  States  of  the  branch  of  the  Drew  family  of 
which  John  Drew  is  the  present  representative. 
(I)   John  Drew,  the  first  of  the  Hne  herein  recorded,  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1850,  bringing  his  wife,  Mar- 
garet, and  his  family.     General  contracting  was  the  business  he  had  fol- 
lowed  in  his  native  country,  and  it  was   in  this  pursuit  that  he   found 
occupation  after  his  arrival  in  Pennsylvania.     In  this  he  continued  until 
his  death,  mainly  on  railroad  construction  or  repair,  one  of  his  other  con- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  783 

tracts  being  that  for  the  erection  of  the  water  works  at  Washington  City. 
He  married  Margaret  Fitzgerald  and  became  the  father  of  several  children, 
among  whom  was  John,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  John  (2)  Drew,  son  of  John  (i)  and  Margaret  (Fitzgerald) 
Drew,  was  born  in  Ireland,  May  13,  1848.  When  two  years  of  age  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  the  United  tSates,  and  was  here  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  For  many  years  he  followed  the  business  of  his  father  and  en- 
gaged in  railroad  contracting,  which  he  abandoned,  after  having  been  very 
successful,  to  become  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh. 
This  is  his  present  occupation,  besides  which  he  is  superintendent  of  the 
Glenndrew  Stock  Farm  in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 
This  is  five  hundred  acres  in  extent  and  here  he  raises  fine  blooded  trotting 
horses.  Mr.  Drew  is  an  excellent  judge  of  horses,  skilled  in  their  care, 
and  has  raised  some  trotters  of  remarkable  speed.     He  married,  in  1873, 

Martha  Anrock,  and  has  the   following  children:    May,   married  

Dolen;  James  B.;  John,  deceased;  Edwin,  deceased;  Martha,  deceased; 
Irene,  deceased ;  Thomas ;  Helen ;  Joseph,  deceased ;  Raymond ;  Hilda. 


The  name  of  Dockter  is  one  which  has  been  prominently 
DOCKTER     identified  with  agricultural  interests  in  the  western  part  of 
the  state  of  Pennsylvania  for  a  number  of  generations. 

(I)  Christian  Dockter,  the  first  of  the  family  of  whom  we  have  record, 
came  to  America  with  his  wife  and  several  children  at  a  very  early  date. 
He  located  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  that  county.  Among  his  chil- 
dren were :    George,  see  forward ;  Christian. 

(II)  George  Dockter,  son  of  Christian  Dockter,  was  born  in  Alsace, 
France,  and  was  nineteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  he  emigrated  to  this 
country  with  his  parents.  His  education  was  received  in  Germany,  and 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States  he  worked  in  a  brickyard  for  a 
period  of  four  years.  In  addition  to  this  employment  he  commenced  to 
farm,  and  purchased  land  on  which  his  son,  George  Jr.,  is  now  living, 
this  having  been  bought  in  1866.  He  had,  however,  lived  in  Butler  county 
until  two  years  previous  to  this  time.  This  farm  consisted  of  one  hundred 
acres,  which  he  increased  so  that  at  one  time  his  property  comprised  five 
hundred  acres.  He  was  very  successful,  at  one  time  owning  the  property 
known  as  Dockter's  Heights,  and  now  lives  there  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness responsibilities.  Mr.  Dockter  married  Elizabeth  Evert,  born  in  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  they  had  children:  Frederick;  George,  see  for- 
ward ;  Christion,  see  forward ;  Charles ;  Caroline ;  Henry ;  one  child  who 
died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 

(III)  George  (2)  Dockter,  son  of  George  (i)  and  Elizabeth  (Evert) 
Dockter,  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  23,  1861.  His 
education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Moon  township,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  at  an  early  age  he  commenced  his  farming  labors. 


784  PENNSYLVANIA 

For  many  years  he  had  under  cultivation  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
acres  of  land,  but  recently  he  gave  twenty-eight  acres  of  this  property  to 
his  sons.  In  addition  to  general  farming  Mr.  Dockter  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising.  His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  he  has  served  in  public  office  as  supervisor.  He  was  reared  in 
the  Lutheran  faith,  his  wife  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  and  they  now 
attend  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Dockter  married,  January  16,  1889, 
Ida  Hamilton,  a  daughter  of  Oscar  and  Catherine  (Craig)  Hamilton,  both 
born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  granddaughter  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Weigle)   Hamilton,  both  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 

a  great-granddaughter  of  Hamilton,  who  came  to  America   from 

Scotland,  and  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Beaver  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dockter  have  had  children:  Clarence  Nelson,  William  Harper,  Ella 
Elizabeth. 

(Ill)  Christian  Dockter,  son  of  George  (i)  and  Elizabeth  (Evert) 
Dockter,  was  born  in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  May 
4,  1871.  He  was  also  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Moon  township, 
and  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming  with  the  exception  of  three  years 
spent  in  the  employ  of  the  Phoenix  Glass  Works,  at  Monaca.  He  now 
owns  a  farm  of  sixty-five  acres,  on  which  he  erected  a  fine  dwelling  house  in 
1910.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  his  political  alle- 
giance is  with  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Dockter  married,  in  1890,  Mary 
Ann  Johnston,  and  has  had  children:  Clifford  Andrew,  Laura  Rose,  Elva 
Mabel,  Tessie  Olive,  John  Walker. 


The  present  Pennsylvania  representative  of  the  Knoed- 
KNOEDLER  ler  family  is  also  the  emigrant,  all  the  previous  genera- 
tions   of   his   line   owning    Kingdom    of    Wuertemberg, 

Germany,  as  their  birthplace  and  as  their  life-long  home.     This  chronicle 

records : 

(I)  Christian  Knoedler  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Treiber)  Knoedler 
( great-great-grandparents ) . 

(II)  Christof  Knoedler,  born  November  4,  1740,  and  died  1779,  and 
his  wife,  Barbara  (Stohrer)  Knoedler,  born  December  4,  1751,  and  died 
1806  (great-grandparents). 

(III)  Johann  Christof  Knoedler,  born  March  18,  1791,  and  his  wife, 
Anna  Maria  (Reick)  Knoedler,  bom  September  9,  1798,  and  died  August 
8,   1868    (grandparents). 

(IV)  Matthaeus  Knoedler,  born  May  10,  1823,  and  died  May  14,  1874 
(father). 

Also,  on  mother's  side,  the  following: 

(I)  Leonhardt  Michael  Sing  and  his  wife,  Ursula  (Strohmaier)  Sing 
(great-great-grandparents) . 

(II)  Johannes  Sing,  born  November  29,  1767,  and  died  February  14, 


BEAVER    COUNTY  785 

1829,  and  his  wife,  Anna  Dorothy  (Treiber)  Sing,  born  July  28,  1768, 
and  died  December  19,  1832  (great-grandparents). 

(III)  Johannes  Sing,  born  October  2,  1794,  and  died  May  18,  1870, 
and  his  wife,  Maria  (Haegenlauer)  Sing,  born  May  17,  1793,  and  died 
May  4,  1842  (grandparents). 

(IV)  Magdalena  Sing,  born  July  22,  1830,  and  died  1891   (mother). 
Children  of  Matthaeus  Knoedler  and  Magdalena  (Sing)  Knoedler:     i. 

Pauline,  born  January  10,  1864;  lives  in  her  native  land,  Kingdom  of  Wuer- 
temberg,  Germany.    2.  John  Frederick,  of  whom  further. 

John  Frederick,  only  son  of  Matthaeus  and  Magdalena  (Sing)  Knoed- 
ler, was  bom  in  Germany,  May  22,  1867.  His  boyhood  was  spent  in  that 
land  and  he  was  there  educated,  his  scholastic  training  being  of  a  high  order, 
as  would  be  expected  from  the  excellent  reputation  borne  by  Germany's 
educational  system,  public  and  private.  In  1883  he  left  the  land  of  his 
birth,  on  May  21st  of  that  year  finding  work  with  the  Harmony  Society 
of  Beaver  county,  laboring  for  a  time  as  farm  hand,  finally  becoming  con- 
stable and  policeman  for  the  society,  his  election  taking  place  February  21, 
1893.  This  position  he  held  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  his  income  aug- 
mented by  his  salary  as  agent  of  the  Beaver  County  Land  Company  in 
the  four  years  from  1908  until  1912.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  is  now  serving  in  that  capacity,  having  been  nomi- 
nated as  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  party.  His  church  is  the  German 
Lutheran. 

Mr.  Knoedler  married,  October  i,  1890,  Christiana  Kroll,  born  in  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1880,  and  whose  chron- 
icle records  the  following: 

(I)  Andreas  Kroll,  born  October  14,  1795,  and  his  wife,  Margaretta 
(Schneller)  Kroll,  born  1796  (grandparents). 

(II)  George  Gottlieb  Kroll,  born  October  12,  1827,  and  died  Novem- 
ber 27,  1883  (father). 

Also,  on  the  mother's  side,  the  following: 

(I)  Conrad  Adam  Meixner  and  his  wife,  Magdalena  (Meixner)  Meix- 
ner   (  grandparents ) . 

(II)  Christiana  Katharina  Meixner,  born  February  27,  1846,  and  died 
April  3,  1907  (mother),  all  of  whom  were  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Wuert- 
emberg,  and  all  of  whom  died  there  with  the  exception  of  George  Gottlieb 
Kroll  and  his  wife,  Christiana  Katharina  (Meixner)  Kroll,  who  came  to 
Economy,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1880,  and  who  died  in  that 
locality. 

Children  of  Gottlieb  and  Christiana  Kroll:  i.  Christiana.  2.  Jacob. 
3.  Fredericka,  deceased.  4.  Christian.  5.  Frederick,  deceased.  6.  Caroline. 
7.  Minnie. 

Children  of  John  Frederick  and  Christiana  (Kroll)  Knoedler:  i. 
Katie,  born  April  20,  1891.  2.  Elsie,  born  January  12,  1895.  3.  Christiana, 
bom  March  3,  1899.    4.  Frederick  M.,  born  May  14,  1900. 


786  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  Knoedler  affiliates  with  the  Schwabenverein  of  Pittsburgh,  and 
the  German  Beneficial  Association,  District  No.  87,  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Order,  No.  504. 


Faithlegg    House,    Fathlegg,    county    Waterford,    was    the 
BOLTON     ancient  seat  of  the  Bolton  and  Power  families.     Tradition 

tells  us  that  the  manor  house  was  built  by  Richard  Alyward, 
Esq.,  when  it  was  denominated  Fathlecke.  He  married  Catherine,  sister  of 
Sir  Almore  Gras.  In  the  year  1469  the  estate  changed  hands,  having  been 
granted  by  Oliver  Cromwell  to  Captain  William  Bolton,  an  officer  in  the 
old  army,  and  one  of  those  chosen  by  lot  at  Whitehall,  on  Friday,  April  20, 
in  the  same  year,  to  go  to  the  service  of  Ireland.  Here  flourished  in  1719 
a  great  cleric,  the  Very  Rev.  Hugh  Bolton,  dean  of  Waterford,  and  uncle 
to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Raphoe,  the  Right  Rev.  James  Hawkins,  with  whose 
immediate  descendants  the  property  remained  until  the  death  of  John  Bol- 
ton, in  1792,  father  of  Lieutenant  General  Sir  Robert  Bolton,  G.  C.  B., 
when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Power  family.  The  ancient  castle  of 
Faithlegg  or  Fatlock,  and  the  picturesque  ruins  of  the  little  church,  sur- 
rounded by  its  venerable  ash  trees,  are  near  the  peaceful  resting  place  of 
many  generations  of  the  Bolton  family.  Seats  of  the  family  were :  Bolton 
of  Bective  Abbey,  county  Meath;  Brazille,  county  Dublin;  The  Island, 
county  Wexford;  Lullydonell,  county  Louth;  Bolton  of  Wakefield,  York- 
shire, Blackburn,  Lancashire;  Avanmore,  Eastbourne,  Charles  Walter  Bol- 
ton, J.  P. ;  Duchray  Castle,  Aberfoyle,  Edwin  Bolton,  M.  P. ;  Highbrake, 
Huncoat,  Lancashire,  H.  H.  Bolton,  J.  P.;  London,  Sir  Frederick  Bolton, 
Major  General  R.  H.  Bolton ;  The  Island  Oulart,  county  Wexford,  William 
Bolton,  J.  P.;  Turkdean  Manor,  Northbeach,  Gloucester,  Lady  Bolton. 

The  members  of  the  Bolton  family  have  long  been  prominent  in  the 
social  and  business  circles  of  Pennsylvania,  and  several  members  of  this 
and  allied  families  have  rendered  distinguished  service  in  defense  of  the 
rights  of  their  country. 

(I)  Joseph  Bolton,  the  American  progenitor  of  the  family,  was  born 
in  Blackburn,  Lancashire,  England,  where  he  was  a  miller  by  occupation. 
Shortly  after  his  marriage  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  in  Norris- 
town,  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  obtained  employment 
in  a  flour  mill,  and  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  He  married  in  England,  his 
wife  being  also  a  native  of  Blackburn,  and  they  had  children:  Joseph,  now 
deceased,  was  a  captain  in  the  Civil  War,  and  lived  in  Norristown ;  William 
J.,  of  further  mention;  Rebecca,  died  unmarried;  John,  died  unmarried. 

(II)  William  J.  Bolton,  son  of  Joseph  Bolton,  was  born  in  Norristown, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1834,  and  died  in  October,  1908.  He  received  an  excel- 
lent education  for  his  time,  and  was  graduated  from  the  seminary  con- 
ducted by  Samuel  Aaron.  He  learned  the  machinist's  trade,  and  prior  to 
the  Civil  War  he  worked  in  Jamison's  Cotton  Mill,  on  DeKalb  street.  After 
the  war  he  established  himself  in  the  wall  paper  business,  having  a  store  at  a 


BEAVER    COUNTY  787 

corner  on  Sweden  street.  He  was  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  the 
community,  and  among  the  offices  held  by  him  were :  Sheriff  of  Norristown, 
having  been  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket;  collector  of  customs  at  the 
port  of  Philadelphia,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr. 
Bolton  was  the  first  man  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  to  enlist  under  Gover- 
nor Curtin.  He  commenced  his  service,  which  lasted  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  as  captain  in  the  Fifty-first  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  also  at  the  time 
of  the  explosion  before  Petersburg.  The  Fifty-first  Regiment  was  the  one 
ordered  by  General  Burnside  to  take  the  bridge  at  Antietam — and  they 
did  take  it — but  there  was  a  great  loss  of  life.  Captain  Bolton  was  advanced 
to  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  when  the  war  closed  had  risen  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general.  The  Fifty-first  Regiment  was  the  only  regiment  of  the 
Ninth  Army  Corps  which  participated  in  all  the  battles  of  the  corps,  this 
being  the  "wandering  corps  of  the  army,"  a  corps  as  an  independent  com- 
mand, that  never  lost  a  battle  nor  a  gun.  Mr.  Bolton  was  appointed  a  mem- 
ber of  a  commission  having  in  charge  the  unveiling  of  a  monument  on  the 
battlefield  of  Antietam,  and  upon  this  occasion  he  caught  a  severe  cold,  from 
the  effects  of  which  he  died.  Mr.  Bolton  married  Wilhelmina  Hall,  born 
at  Mill  Creek,  near  Norristown,  Pennsylvania,  July  20,  1836,  died  in  No- 
vember, 1908,  concerning  whose  family  see  below.  They  had  one  child: 
Joseph  Jurdin,  of  further  mention.  They  separated  in  1859.  Mr.  Bolton 
married  (second)  Emma  Rupert,  of  Bloomsburg,  Pennsylvania.  There  was 
one  daughter  by  the  second  marriage :  May  R.,  who  is  unmarried  and  live* 
in  Philadelphia.  The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Bolton  married  (second)  James  H. 
Wood  and  resided  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  They  had  children:  Jessie,  married 
William  Brant;  Sevilla,  married  Albert  Miller;  Luella,  married  Herbert 
L.  Brainard.  All  live  in  Cleveland,  where  Mr.  Brainard  is  secretary  of 
the  Grossman  Paper  Box  Company. 

The  Hall  family,  of  which  Wilhelmina  (Hall-Bolton)  Wood  was  a 
descendant,  were  Quakers  and  came  to  this  country  from  Kent,  England. 
George  Hall  was  married  in  England,  and  came  to  this  country  with  his 
wife  and  one  son,  George,  and  after  they  came  here  they  had  another  son, 
Townsend. 

Townsend  Hall,  son  of  George  Hall,  married  Elizabeth  Dickson,  and 
they  had  eleven  sons  and  ten  daughters.  Her  maternal  uncle  was  Andrew 
Ellicutt,  who  was  the  owner  of  the  largest  calico  mills  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land. 

Joseph  D.  Hall,  son  of  Townsend  and  Elizabeth  (Dickson)  Hall,  was 
born  December  25,  1803,  in  Soulesberry  township,  Bucks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, died  in  Hiram  township,  Portage  county,  Ohio,  June  19,  1894.  He 
was  a  carpenter  and  shoemaker  by  occupation  and  removed  to  Ohio  in  July, 
1866.  He  was  considered  the  best  cradler  and  mower  in  the  township,  and 
mowed  five  acres  in  one  day.  The  mowing  was  always  done  by  hand  and 
he  was  picked  to  lead  the  field  of  from  ten  to  twelve  mowing  at  a  time. 


788  PENNSYLVANIA 

He  married  Rachel  Bowne,  born  May  26,  1804,  at  Shamokin  Post  Office, 
died  at  Mantua  Station,  Portage  county,  Ohio,  March  21,  1870.  Her  father 
was  a  well-known  teacher  and  poet,  and  had  four  other  daughters  and  three 
sons.  Joseph  D.  and  Rachel  (Bowne)  Hall  had  children:  Nelson,  was  an 
engineer  on  an  ocean  steamship,  and  was  washed  off  the  deck  during  a 
storm  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  Louisa,  married  Daniel  Goodman,  is  living 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years  at  Youngstown,  Ohio;  Wilhelmina,  men- 
tioned above ;  Pierson  M.,  a  prosperous  and  retired  merchant  of  Qeveland, 
Ohio.  Nelson  Hall  served  during  the  Civil  War  as  a  member  of  the  Cam- 
eron Dragoons.  Pierson  M.,  who  was  born  in  1839,  served  as  a  member 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  detailed  as  government  inspector  in  the  arsenal  at  Phila- 
delphia. 

(Ill)  Joseph  Jurdin  Bolton,  son  of  William  J.  and  Wilhelmina  (Hall) 
Bolton,  was  born  in  Norristown,  Pennsylvania,  September  29,  1856.  He 
went  to  Ohio  with  his  maternal  grandparents  in  1866,  and  lived  on  the  farm 
in  Portage  county,  and  there  attended  the  district  school.  When  he  was 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  removed  to  Cleveland  and  lived  with  his  mother, 
and  attended  school  for  a  time.  He  commenced  working  in  the  Cleveland 
Woolen  Mills  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  then  learned  the  trade  of  wire 
drawing  in  the  Cleveland  Roller  Mill,  and  remained  there  seven  years.  One 
year  was  then  spent  in  the  employ  of  R.  H.  Wolf  &  Company,  of  Nefw 
York,  and  in  1885  he  came  to  Beaver  Falls,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  as  an  expert  fine  wire  drawer  formed  a  connection  with  the  Carnegie 
Steel  Mill  Company  which  remained  unbroken  for  fourteen  years.  He 
was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  mill  in  1896.  Three  years  later  this 
company  sold  out  to  the  American  Wire  Company,  and  Mr.  Bolton  severed 
his  connection  with  it.  Mr.  Bolton  then  engaged  in  business  as  a  florist, 
and  he  has  met  with  the  success  which  his  work  richly  merits.  He  com- 
menced with  a  greenhouse  twelve  by  twenty  feet,  and  now  has  five  large 
greenhouses  in  Big  Beaver  township,  near  Homewood.  His  greenhouses 
are  supplied  with  all  the  conveniences  known  to  floriculture,  and  form  a 
picture  to  delight  the  most  artistic  eye.  He  deals  in  both  cut  flowers  and 
potted  plants,  and  his  grounds  are  renowned  far  and  wide.  He  has  rebuilt 
the  house  in  which  he  now  lives,  and  has  remodeled  it  along  the  most  mod- 
ern ideas.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  and  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum. 

Mr.  Bolton  married  (first)  in  August,  1878,  Jane  Lewis,  born  in  Wales, 
died  in  1883,  a  daughter  of  Francis  Lewis,  an  ironworker  in  mills  at  Cleve- 
land; he  married  (second)  February  25,  1887,  Maria  E.  Holmes,  born  in 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of  John  T.  and  Margaret  A. 
(Lockhart)  Holmes.  Children  by  the  first  marriage:  Viola,  married 
Charles  McNally,  an  electrician  in  Pittsburgh,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Donald;  Francis,  is  unmarried,  and  lives  in  Florida.  There  are  no  children 
by  the  second  marriage. 


BEAVER    COUNTY  789 

John  T.  Holmes,  father  of  Mrs.  Bolton,  was  a  manufacturer  of  the 
Holmes  axe  the  factory  at  Temperanceville,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  moved  to  New  Brighton,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Patterson  Mitchel,  manufacturing  axes.  They 
are  both  dead,  John  T.  Holmes  dying  February  14,  1887. 


The  name  of  Temple  is  a  very  ancient  one  and  is  known 
TEMPLE     throughout  the  civilized  world.    As,  in  former  times,  people 

took  their  names  from  their  occupations,  it  is  more  than 
likely  that  the  original  bearers  of  the  name  of  Temple  were  in  office  in  a 
temple  or  some  house  of  worship.  The  family  of  which  this  sketch  treats 
came  to  this  country  probably  from  England  or  Wales,  as  the  name  is  of 
frequent  occurrence  there. 

(I)  In  the  troublesome  times  at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War, 
many  who  thought  well  of  America  saw  fit  to  come  to  this  country  in 
search  of  homes,  and  among  such  was  a  widower  by  the  name  of  Robert 
Temple,  who  left  a  large  family  in  central  England,  presumably  in  York- 
shire. Whether  he  was  in  any  way  related  to  the  unfortunate  Charlotte 
Temple,  buried  in  Trinity  Church  Yard,  New  York  City,  or  to  the  noted 
Archbishop  Temple,  of  recent  date,  is  by  no  means  certain,  or  proven, 
although  very  probable.  After  residing  for  about  two  years  in  this  coun- 
try, he  married  and  settled  on  what  is  now  known  as  Johnson's  Hill,  near 
New  Sheffield,  Pennsylvania,  and  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness,  as  it  then 
was,  a  considerable  portion  of  his  claim,  sixty  acres  of  which  are  still  in  the 
possession  of  William  M.  Temple.  He  was  killed  by  falling  timber  in  the 
forest  surrounding  his  hardly  won  homestead,  some  time  in  the  spring  of 
1788. 

(H)  Robert  (2)  Temple,  son  of  Robert  (i)  Temple,  was  born  in 
1788.  In  youth  he  was  bound  out,  as  was  the  custom  of  those  days,  and 
he  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  which  he  followed  for  many  years.  He 
served  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  a  staunch  Abolitionist.  He  was  the 
owner  of  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  near  Hopewell,  Hopewell  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  there,  March  20,  1870.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  (first) 
Mary  Davis,  born  in  1793  in  Hopewell  township,  died  there  July  20,  1854. 

He  married  (second)  .     Children,  all  by  first  marriage:    i.  Isabel, 

born  July  10,  1815,  died  August  30,   1896.     2.  Jane,  born  July  5,   1816; 

married  Harris.     3.  William,  born  December  22,  1817,  died  May 

23,  1892.  4.  Henry  of  further  mention.  5.  Johnson,  born  June  3,  1820, 
died  March  30,  1846.  6.  Mary,  born  November  14,  1821,  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1889;  married  Hustleton.     7.  Robert,  of  further  mention.     8. 

Margaret,  born  October  24,  1823,  died  in  June,  1870;  married Hous- 
ton.    9.    Esther,    the    only   one   now    living,    born    September    15,    1825; 

married  Smith,  and  lives  in  Marion,  Ohio.     10.  Anderson,  born 

December  4,  1830,  was  killed  while  in  service  during  the  Civil  War,  Feb- 


790  PENNSYLVANIA 

ruary  lo,  1865.  11.  Ray,  born  July  23,  1828,  died  November  2,  1881 ;  was 
also  a  soldier  during  the  Civil  War.  12.  Rachel,  born  June  i,  1834,  died 
March  6,  1888.  13.  Alexander,  bom  November  16,  1836,  died  August 
II,  1890. 

(III)  Henry  Temple,  son  of  Robert  (2)  and  Mary  (Davis)  Temple, 
was  born  in  Hopewell  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  10,  1819, 
died  July  8,  1895.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  adjoining  the 
old  Temple  homestead,  purchasing  one  hundred  acres,  which  he  cleared 
and  cultivated.  Some  time  later  he  purchased  an  additional  sixty  acres 
and  still  later  another  plot  of  fifty-three  acres.  He  had  acquired  a  fairly 
good  education,  and  in  his  earlier  years  taught  school  for  a  time.  He  served 
as  an  elder  in  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  at  Raccoon,  and  was  gener- 
ally active  in  church  aflfairs.  He  married  Margaret,  born  in  Little  Beaver, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  James  and  Margaret  Buchanan; 
she  died  in  February,  1905.  Children:  i.  Vianna,  died  in  infancy,  August 
20,  1856.  2.  Ida,  born  October  i,  1858,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 
3.  Wilda,  born  July  24,  i860;  married  Robert  S.  Burneson,  and  lives  at 
West  Bridgewater,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Rose,  born  October  6,  1862 ;  married 
J.  Elmer  Craig,  and  lives  in  Hanover  township,  Pennsylvania.  5.  Nettie, 
born  October  14,  1864;  married  J.  W.  Irwin,  and  died  in  Greene  township, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1892.  6.  Alva  Henry,  of  further  mention.  7.  Tina 
Louisa,  born  March  20,  1869 ;  married  John  Fetzer,  and  lives  at  Aliquippa, 
Pennsylvania.  8.  Austin,  bom  December  31,  1871 ;  a  furniture  dealer  at 
AHquippa,   Pennsylvania. 

(IV)  Alva  Henry  Temple,  son  of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Buchanan) 
Temple,  was  born  in  Hopewell  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
July  II,  1866.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
township,  and  was  then  a  student  for  a  time  at  the  Canfield  Academy,  Ohio. 
He  took  up  farming  on  the  homestead  and  was  soon  in  entire  management 
of  the  place.  He  retained  this  position  until  the  death  of  his  father,  when 
he  purchased  the  shares  of  two  of  the  other  heirs,  combined  them  with  his 
own  share,  and  made  in  all  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  thirteen  acres.  In 
February,  1905,  he  sold  this  and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  acres  in  Hanover  township,  where  he  has  lived  since  that  time.  Very 
recently  he  purchased  a  plot  of  fourteen  acres  near  Woodlawn.  He  is 
very  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  his 
products  are  considered  of  the  highest  standard.  In  political  matters  he 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Temple  married,  November  29,  1893,  Orpha 
A.  Todd,  born  at  Raccoon  creek.  Moon  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania (see  Todd  II).  Children:  Clare,  at  present  a  student  at  the  Hooks- 
town  high  school ;  Frederick,  Clifford,  Whitham,  Austin. 

(The  Todd  Line.) 
The  Todds  were  an  ancient  family  of  Scotland,  at  one  time  owning 
land  where  the  city  of  Glasgow  is  now  located.    Because  of  religious  perse- 


BEAVER    COUNTY  791 

cutions  they  emigrated  to  America,  settling  on  Raccoon  creek,  Hopewell 
township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  have  now  lived  for 
many  generations. 

(I)  Thomas  Todd  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  was  brought  to  this 
country  by  his  parents  when  he  was  a  very  young  child.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  land  owner.  The  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  taken  up  by  him  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  years  ago,  is  still  in  the  possession  of  members 
of  the  Todd  family.  He  died  in  July  or  August,  1873.  He  married  Eliza 
Spaulding,  born  in  Scotland,  and  also  brought  to  this  country  at  a  very 
early  age. 

(H)  John  S.  Todd,  son  of  Thomas  and  Eliza  (Spaulding)  Todd, 
was  bom  in  Hopewell  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  April, 
1840,  died  near  Woodlawn,  Hopewell  township,  in  August,  1893.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  cultivated  the  land  which  he  had  inherited.  He  married 
Hannah  Bruce,  born  in  Hopewell  township,  in  April,  1839,  died  in  1893. 
They  had  children:  i.  Ira,  a  dentist  at  Monaca,  Pennsylvania.  2.  Frank, 
a  fanner  of  Hopewell  township.  3.  Orpha  A.,  married  Alva  Henry  Temple 
(see  Temple  IV).  3.  Sena  Jane,  married  William  Temple,  and  lives  near 
Woodlawn,  Pennsylvania. 

Abraham  Bruce,  father  of  Mrs.  Todd,  was  born  in  Hopewell  township, 
where  he  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  land  owner  at  Raccoon  creek. 
There  also  his  death  occurred.  He  married  Christine  Cooper,  who  survived 
him  many  years,  dying  August  28,  1893,  at  the  age  of  about  eighty-seven 
years.  She  was  born  in  Moon  township,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
Cooper,  granddaughter  of  Matthias  Cooper,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  Moon  township,  Beaver  county.  She  was  a  member  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church  at  Raccoon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruce  had  children:  i.  Emma 
J.,  married  (first)  William  Creighton,  and  lived  in  Kansas;  married  (second) 

Cline;  is  again  a  widow  and  now  lives  in  Wilkinsburg,  Pennsylvania. 

2.  Hannah,  married  John  S.  Todd,  as  above  mentioned.  3.  Maria,  married 
James  Warnock,  and  lives  in  Beaver  Falls.  4.  Wiliam  R.,  now  deceased,  was 
a  soldier  in  active  service  during  the  Civil  War,  and  was  later  a  minister  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  5.  George  W.,  now  retired  from  business 
affairs,  was  a  soldier  during  the  Civil  War.  6.  Abraham  G.,  a  dentist  in 
Wilkinsburg,  Pennsylvania.    7.  Charles  H.,  a  Presbyterian  minister. 


(Ill)  Robert  (3)  Temple,  son  of  Robert  (2)  (q.  v.)  and 
TEMPLE     Mary  (Davis)  Temple,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  July 

7,  1822,  died  February  8,  1899.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith,  after  completing  his  studies  in  the  district  school,  and  later  set- 
tled at  New  Sheffield,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  ten 
years.  In  1862  he  moved  to  the  farm  on  which  his  son,  William  M.  Temple, 
now  resides,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  served  as  school 
director  for  several  years,  also  held  other  offices  of  trust ;  was  a  member  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church ;  was  liberal  in  his  political  views,  and  was 


792  PENNSYLVANIA 

upright  and  conscientious  in  everything  he  did.  Mr.  Temple  married  (first) 
Mary  Jane  Craig,  who  died  in  1864,  and  who  bore  him  six  children,  namely : 
James  Craig,  a  physician ;  Robert  A.,  now  residing  near  Alliance,  Ohio ;  John 
M.,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm;  H.  C,  a  physician  of  Alliance,  Ohio;  A. 
B.,  a  physician,  practicing  his  profession  first  in  Allegheny  City  and  Beaver, 
Pennsylvania,  later  at  Chetopa,  Kansas,  for  twenty  years,  and  finally  at 
Tulsa,  Oklahoma,  where  he  died  in  1903  and  his  remains  are  buried  in 
Labette  county,  Kansas;  Mary  E.,  who  married  J.  E.  Summerville  and  re- 
sides at  Woodlawn,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Temple  married  (second)  Catherine 
Winkle,  who  is  still  living  on  the  old  farm.  Three  children  were  born  of 
this  union:  William  M.,  of  whom  further;  Emma  Jean,  died  in  infancy; 
Rachel  A.,  who  became  the  wife  of  L.  F.  Windle. 

(IV)  William  M.  Temple,  son  of  Robert  (3)  and  Catherine  (Winkle) 
Temple,  was  born  in  Hopewell  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  10,  1865,  near  where  he  now  lives.  He  was  educated  at  the  Mount 
Vernon  School.  He  has  always  followed  the  occupation  of  farming,  the 
scene  of  his  labors  being  the  sixty  acres  which  he  owns  of  the  original 
Temple  Ridge  Farm.  His  interests  and  activities  have  not  been  confined 
to  his  personal  affairs,  but  on  the  contrary  have  embraced  the  public  affairs 
of  the  community  where  he  lives.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  though 
extremely  independent  in  his  opinions,  and  an  ardent  opponent  of  the  liquor 
business.  In  1898  he  was  made  tax  collector  for  Hopewell  township  and 
served  for  six  years,  and  in  1905  he  was  elected  assessor  and  served  for  a 
similar  period,  and  in  1912  was  again  appointed  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the 
office  of  tax  collector,  also  in  1913  was  elected  to  the  same  office,  serving  in 
that  capacity  at  the  present  time  (1914),  also  as  assessor  of  the  precinct.  In 
addition  to  these  public  offices,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Democratic  county 
committee  for  upward  of  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Temple  married,  May  8,  1895,  Jennie  S.  Todd,  of  Moon  township, 
Pennsylvania,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children:  Howard  C.  and 
Pearl  I.  Mr.  Temple  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  First  United  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Woodlawn,  of  which  he  is  a  member  of  the  session. 


Alvin  M.  Bickerstaff,  a  prominent  and  successful  citi- 
BICKERSTAFF     zen  of  Monaca,  Pennsylvania,  is  a  member  of  an  old 

Pennsylvania  family,  originally  of  German  origin  in 
the  direct  line.  He  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  April  14,  1858,  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Elizabeth  (Manor)  Bickerstaff. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  Alvin  M.  Bickerstaff  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  a  pioneer  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  settled 
and  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Moon  township.  His  son,  James  Bicker- 
staff, was  married  to  a  Mrs.  Weigle,  and  to  them  in  turn  was  born  William 
Bickerstaff,  the  father  of  Alvin  M.  Bickerstaff.  William  Bickerstaff  was 
born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1814,  and  was  a  very  suc- 
cessful farmer  there.    He  later  became  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Monaca 


BEAVER    COUNTY  793 

and  there  conducted  so  lucrative  a  business  that  he  was  enabled  to  live  re- 
tired for  several  years.  His  death  occurred  in  that  town,  September  2,  1893. 
He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Manor,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Grimes)  Manor,  and  a  native  of  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  she 
was  born  in  the  year  181 5.  She  survived  her  husband  seven  weeks,  her 
death  occurring  October  23,  1893.  To  them  were  bom  eight  children,  as 
follows :  Samuel,  deceased ;  James,  deceased ;  Jefferson,  deceased ;  Isaac,  de- 
ceased; Alvin  M.,  of  whom  further;  Minerva,  deceased;  Nancy;  Diantha. 
Mr.  Bickerstaff  Sr.  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 

Alvin  M.  Bickerstaff  was  born  at  a  point  about  two  miles  from  Monaca, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  old  stone  house  belonging  to  the  family. 
He  was  educated  in  the  local  public  schools.  After  completing  his  studies, 
he  found  employment  for  a  short  time  as  a  riverman,  and  shortly  afterward 
joined  his  father  in  the  hotel  business,  which  the  latter  was  conducting  in 
Monaca.  The  first  house  they  thus  conducted  was  known  as  the  Farmer's 
Hotel,  which  they  operated  for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  disposed  of  to 
become  the  proprietors  of  the  Monaca  Hotel.  This  he  finally  sold  to  accept 
a  position  with  the  Phoenix  Glass  Company,  with  which  he  remained  for  a 
number  of  years.  Mr.  Bickerstaff  is  at  present  employed  in  the  Colonial 
Steel  Mill.  Besides  this  position,  he  is  the  owner  of  considerable  amount  of 
valuable  property  in  Monaca.  Mr.  Bickerstaff  is  a  man  of  affairs  and  very 
active  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party  and  on  that 
ticket  was  elected  to  the  Monaca  council,  an  office  he  has  held  for  three 
years.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Monaca  Lodge  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics. 

Mr.  Bickerstaff  married,  July  22,  1902,  Mrs.  Clara  Leffert,  daughter 
of  William  and  Wilhelmina  (Morh)  Schnoble,  and  a  native  of  Freedom, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  she  was  bom  September  22,  1863.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Monaca  in  the  year  1833,  her  mother  in  Germany,  two 
years  later.  Both  her  paternal  and  maternal  grandparents  were  pioneers  in 
Beaver  county ;  the  former  being  John  Schnoble,  and  the  latter  George  and 
Catherine  (Bush)  Mohr,  both  natives  of  Germany.  By  her  former  mar- 
riage Mrs.  Bickerstaff  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  George  Leffert,  de- 
ceased, and  Frances  Wilhelmina,  who  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Monaca  and  the  Business  College  of  Beaver,  and  is  now  a  stenographer  at 
Dixmont,  Pennsylvania,  where  she  has  been  for  nearly  four  years.  Mr. 
Bickerstaff  was  baptized  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  Mrs.  Bickerstaff 
is  a  Lutheran. 


The  Mercers  for  the  greater  part  are  of  Scotch  origin,  and 

MERCER     for  centuries  before  the  coming  of  persons  of  their  blood  to 

this  country  the  name  was  a  distinguished  one  in  commercial 

and  industrial  life.    From  Scotland  they  branched  out  to  England  and  Ire- 


794  PENNSYLVANIA 

land,  and  they  are  represented  in  those  countries  at  the  present  day.  Thomas 
Mercer  came  to  America  from  England  about  1666,  and  made  his  home  in 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.    He  married  and  had  children. 

(II)  Thomas  (2)  Mercer,  son  of  Thomas  (i)  Mercer,  also  married  and 
had  children. 

(III)  Robert  Mercer,  son  of  Thomas  (2)  Mercer,  was  born  in  1741, 
died  in  1820.  He  married  Betsey  Brown,  and  they  had  children :  Olive,  born 
1767,  died  young;  John,  bom  1768,  married  Ann  Bafif ;  Joseph,  see  forward; 
Robert,  born  in  1772,  married  Hannah  Mercer;  Eli,  born  1774,  died  of 
smallpox  and  left  no  heirs;  Martha,  born  1776,  died  young;  William,  born 

in  1778,  married  (first)  Taylor,  (second)  Wishart,  (third)  

Hart;  Levi,  born  in  1780,  married  Sarah  Martin;  Elizabeth,  born  in  1783, 

died  unmarried;  Rachel,  married Peters;  Abner,  born  in  1787,  married 

Mary  Brand;  Leah,  born  1791,  married  Robert  Mercer. 

(IV)  Joseph  Mercer,  son  of  Robert  and  Betsey  (Brown)  Mercer,  was 
born  in  1770.  He  located  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania, 
at  a  very  early  date,  being  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  region.  In  later 
life  he  removed  to  Jackson  county,  Virginia,  where  his  death  occurred.  He 
married  Comfort  Nuttingham,  and  had  children:  Nuttingham,  married 
Hannah  Traxler ;  Elizabeth,  married  E.  Boggs ;  Robert,  see  forward ;  Mary, 
born  1797,  married  Robert  Clear;  Phoebe,  born  in  1797,  married  William 
Campbell;  Joseph,  born  in  1804,  married  Mary  A.  Day. 

(V)  Robert  Mercer,  son  of  Joseph  and  Comfort  (Nuttingham)  Mercer, 
was  born  in  1795,  probably  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 
He  and  two  sisters  remained  in  Beaver  county  when  the  other  members  of 
the  family  removed  to  Virginia.  He  married  Betsey  Smith,  born  in  i8or, 
probably  on  the  old  Smith  farm  on  which  James  Smith  now  resides.  He  had 
children :  D.  Smith,  who  married  Margaret  Thomburg  and  lives  in  Illinois ; 
Joseph,  see  forward ;  and  Mary  Jane,  who  died  leaving  no  heirs. 

(VI)  Joseph  Mercer,  son  of  Robert  and  Betsey  (Smith)  Mercer,  was 
born  in  Greene  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  14,  1829.  His 
earliest  education  was  obtained  in  the  schoolhouse  which  stood  on  Service 
creek,  Beaver  county,  and  when  the  township  erected  better  school  build- 
ings, he  was  an  attendant  at  them.  The  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been 
spent  in  agricultural  pursuits,  although  he  went  to  Shippingport,  Beaver 
county,  and  was  there  engaged  in  boat  building  for  a  time.  After  three  years 
spent  in  this  town  as  a  carpenter  and  boat  builder,  he  bought  the  farm  on 
which  he  is  still  living,  comprising  ninety  acres.  He  has  greatly  improved 
the  farm  and  the  buildings  on  it,  and  also  devoted  considerable  time  to  stock 
raising.  During  the  Civil  War  he  volunteered  for  service  in  the  army  but 
was  rejected  because  of  his  wearing  artificial  teeth. 

Mr.  Mercer  married  (first)  in  1852,  Eliza  Swaney,  who  died  September 
28,  1870.  He  married  (second)  January  24,  1872,  Mary  Hannah  Eakin, 
born  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  died  December  9,  1894.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Eakin,  born  in  1810,  a  son  of  William  Eakin.    John  Eakin  was 


BEAVER   COUNTY  795 

a  wagon  builder,  and  lived  in  Calcutta,  Ohio.  He  married  (first)  Susan 
Davison,  born  December  5,  1812,  (second)  March  14,  1837,  Tamer  Cobern, 
born  April  8,  181 1,  and  by  the  first  marriage  had :  William,  born  August  29, 
1833;  by  the  second  marriage  he  had:  Margaret  Ann,  bom  in  1839,  died 
in  childhood ;  Mary  Hannah,  mentioned  above.  Children  of  Joseph  and  Eliza 
(Swaney)  Mercer:  i.  Belle  C,  born  April  18,  1854.  2.  Robert  S.,  born 
September  11,  1856,  is  a  merchant  in  New  Wilmington,  Pennsylvania.  He 
married  and  has  had  children :  i.  Corinne  B.,  who  was  graduated  from  the 
Beaver  High  School,  then  from  the  Westminster  College  at  New  Wilming- 
ton, where  she  is  now  an  instructor  in  music,  ii.  Edith,  who  was  also 
graduated  from  Westminster  College,  married  Reed  Veasy,  a  professor  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  iii.  Joseph  Roy,  was  graduated  from  Westminster  College, 
and  taught  for  several  years.  He  then  became  a  student  at  the  Ann  Arbor 
Law  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  at  New  Castle,  iv.  Inez,  a  student  in  the  high  school  in  New 
Wilmington.  3.  Thomas  S.,  born  February  19,  1859,  is  in  the  wholesale  shoe 
business  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh.  He  married  and  has  children :  i.  George, 
after  being  graduated  from  the  schools  of  Pittsburgh,  entered  into  business 
with  his  father,  ii.  Earl  E.,  is  a  student  in  Westminster  College.  4.  James 
Elmer,  bom  October  4,  1861,  is  in  the  shoe  business  in  Denver,  Colorado. 
He  married  and  has  children:  Lelia  and  Lura,  both  graduates  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Colorado,  and  now  engaged  in  teaching;  Donald,  is  a  pupil  in  the 
Denver  High  School.  Children  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Hannah  (Eakin)  Mer- 
cer: 5.  Jennie  T.,  born  February  2,  1873,  married  Rev.  F.  G.  Wright,  of 
Guthrie,  Oklahoma.  6.  John  N.,  see  forward.  7.  Elizabeth  M.,  born 
November  i,  1877,  married  Owen  Ramsey,  a  foreman  in  an  oil  refinery  at 
Lawrenceville,  Illinois.  8.  William  D.,  born  June  13,  1882,  is  a  United 
Presbyterian  missionary,  now  at  Salkote,  India. 

(VII)  John  N.  Mercer,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Hannah  (Eakin,) 
Mercer,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  i,  1874,  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  is  still  living.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Greene  township,  and  at  the  academy  at  Hookstown,  from  which  he  was 
graduated.  One  year  was  then  spent  at  the  Beaver  High  School  and 
another  at  Beaver  College.  He  cultivates  the  homestead  farm  on  which  he 
was  born,  making  a  decided  success  of  this  enterprise.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  been  an  exceptionally  active  worker  in 
its  interests.  He  has  been  honored  by  election  and  appointment  to  a 
number  of  public  offices,  among  these  being  road  commissioner,  which 
office  he  filled  for  three  years ;  during  this  time  he  was  also  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  board;  as  auditor  he  rendered  excellent  service  to  the 
community.  Mr.  Mercer  married,  December  17,  1905,  Effie  L.,  daughter 
of  Alexander  L.  Moore,  of  Beaver  county.  They  have  children:  Mary 
Elizabeth  and  Joseph  Alexander.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mercer  are  members  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 


796  PENNSYLVANIA 

The  introduction  of  the  Dawson  family  into  England,  ac- 
DAWSON     cording  to  Burke  and  other  writers  on  the  British  peerage, 

was  in  1066,  Sir  Marmaduke  D'Ossone  having  been  one 
of  the  Norman  noblemen  who  were  in  the  company  of  William  the  Con- 
queror. For  services  rendered  in  battle  he  is  said  to  have  received  a 
grant  of  an  estate  from  his  successful  leader,  and  to  have  resided  in 
England  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  By  an  easy  process  the  name  be- 
came Anglicized  to  Dawson,  as  it  has  since  been  retained,  with  the  many 
variations,  Dowson,  Dowse,  Dowsing  and  Dowsett.  Bearers  of  the  name  are 
found  in  all  English  speaking  countries  and  colonies,  and  it  may  be  safely 
asserted  that  it  has  penetrated  to  nearly  all  Christian  and  heathen  lands, 
carried  forward  by  the  commercial  enterprise  and  the  religious  zeal  of  in- 
dividuals. 

(I)  The  emigrant  ancestor  of  the  branch  of  the  Dawson  family  of 
whom  complete  record  is  herein  given,  was  John  Dawson,  who  came  from 
the  north  of  England,  either  from  Whitehaven,  in  Cumberland,  or  from 
Yorkshire,  to  Maryland,  previous  to  1700.  It  is  uncertain  whether  he 
made  direct  settlement  in  Maryland  or  found  his  way  to  that  colony  by 
way  of  Philadelphia.  It  is  recorded  that  he  emigrated  when  a  young  man 
and  was  quite  advanced  in  years  when  his  death  occurred.  This  is  sup- 
posed to  have  taken  place  before  1720,  from  the  fact  that  his  son  Thomas, 
who  died  in  1800,  aged  ninety-two  years,  barely  remembered  the  event  as 
one  which  happened  in  his  childhood.  He  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of 
John  Doyne,  who  was  an  Irish  gentleman  who  held  a  grant  of  land  on 
Chickamoxon  creek,  in  Charles  county,  about  thirty  miles  below  the  present 
site  of  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C.  They  made  their  home  on  Broad 
creek,  in  Prince  George  county,  where  he  died.  Children  of  John  and 
Rebecca  (Doyne)  Dawson:  i.  John,  died  unmarried  in  early  life.  2. 
George,  a  resident  of  Montgomery  county,  Maryland.  3.  William,  died 
in  early  life,  unmarried.  4.  Thomas,  of  whom  further.  5.  Nicholas,  lived 
in  Loudon  county,  Virginia.     6.  Eleanor,  married  a  Mr.  Bayne. 

(II)  Thomas  Dawson,  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Doyne)  Dawson,  was 
bom  at  Broad  Creek,  Prince  George  county,  Maryland,  in  1708,  died  in 
Montgomery  county,  Maryland,  in  August,  1800.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Lowe,  of  Prince  George  county,  Maryland,  who  was 
an  ancestor  of  Governor  Lowe,  of  Maryland.  Children  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Lowe)  Dawson:  i.  Benoni,  of  whom  further.  2.  Mary,  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Mackall,  the  second  of  her  family  to  marry  into  the  Mackall 
family,  her  brother  Nicholas  L.  being  the  third.  3.  Sarah,  married  William 
Blackmore.  4.  Eleanor,  married  Lawrence  Allnut.  5.  Nicholas  L.,  born 
1751,  died  in  Montgomery  county,  Maryland,  1831,  married  Mary  Mackall. 
6.  Verlinda  H.,  married  James  Allnut,  a  brother  of  Lawrence,  husband  of 
her  sister  Eleanor.  7.  Robert  Doyne,  born  1758;  married  Sarah  N.  Chis- 
well ;  died  in  Montgomery  county,  Maryland,  in  August,  1824.  8.  Eliza- 
beth, died  unmarried.     9.  Rebecca,  married  Benjamin  Mackall,  nephew  of 


BEAVER    COUNTY  797 

Benjamin  Mackall,  husband  of  her  sister  Mary.  10.  Jane,  married  Weaver 
Johns. 

(III)  Benoni  Dawson,  eldest  child  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Lowe) 
Dawson,  was  born  in  Maryland,  1742,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  6,  1806.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania (now  Fayette  county)  where  he  joined  the  family  of  his  uncle, 
George  Dawson,  who  had  preceded  him  into  that  locality.  After  a  short 
stay  with  his  relatives  he  continued  his  westward  way  and  settled  in  the 
lower  corner  of  what  is  now  Beaver  county,  the  town  of  Georgetown  being 
situated  on  land  once  his  property.  He  had  brought  with  him  his  family 
and  all  his  possessions,  including  seven  slaves,  and  while  in  Fayette  county 
sent  men  ahead  with  his  cattle,  having  given  them  orders  to  clear  land  for 
a  homestead.  He  built  a  mill  on  Mill  Creek.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  and  is  quoted  as  being  "a  good  man  to  the  poor."  In 
the  new  community  his  wise  and  just  judgment  was  widely  felt  for  good, 
the  strength  of  his  character  lending  weight  to  his  counsel.  He  married 
Rebecca  Mackall.  Children  of  Benoni  and  Rebecca  (Mackall)  Dawson: 
I.  Thomas,  born  about  1765,  died  at  Georgetown,  Pennsylvania,  aged 
fifty-two  years;  married  Nancy  Dawson,  and  became  the  father  of  nine 
children.  2.  Benoni,  of  whom  further.  3.  George,  lived  on  Mill  Creek, 
died  aged  about  fifty  years;  married  Jane  Mackall,  and  of  this  marriage 
five  children  were  born.  4.  Mackall,  lived  and  died  near  Georgetown, 
Pennsylvania;  married  and  had  children.  5.  Nicholas,  born  1772,  died  near 
Calcutta,  Ohio,  in  1855;  married  Rachel  Moore,  born  August  31,  1777, 
died  July  19,  1846;  they  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children.  6.  Mary, 
married  James  Blackmore,  and  became  the  mother  of  four  children.  7. 
Elizabeth,  married  Charles  Blackmore,  and  had  three  children.  8.  Rebecca 
Mackall,  married  William  White;  they  were  the  parents  of  nine  children. 

9.  Nancy  Brooks,  married  John  Beaver,  and  was  the  mother  of  one  child. 

10.  John  L.,  died  near  Wooster,  Ohio;  married  Mary  Cotton;  of  this 
marriage  were  born  eight  children.  11.  Benjamin,  of  whom  further.  12. 
Robert  D.,  died  aged  twenty-one  years,  unmarried.  13.  James  M.,  died 
without  issue. 

(IV)  Benoni  (2)  Dawson,  second  son  and  child  of  Benoni  (i)  and 
Rebecca  (Mackall)  Dawson,  was  born  in  Frederick,  Maryland,  August 
20,  1768,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvaina,  November  14,  1844.  He 
moved  from  the  south  to  the  north  side  of  the  Ohio  river,  and  there  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  (now  owned  by  Lewis 
Davidson),  clearing  and  cultivating  the  same.  He  served  two  terms,  of 
six  months  each,  as  a  frontier  guard  against  hostile  Indians,  the  service 
being  known  among  those  engaged  therein  as  "standing  on  the  station." 
He  married  Katherine  P.  D.  McKennon,  a  native  of  Scotland,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Daniel  McKennon,  born  in  Annapolis,  Maryland,  October  20,  1775, 
died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  18,  1848.  Children  of 
Benoni  (2)  and  Katherine  P.  D.  (McKennon)  Dawson:    i.  Elizabeth,  born 


798  PENNSYLVANIA 

April  22,  1794,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  unmarried.  2.  Benja- 
min, born  June  20,  1796,  died  October  22,  1817;  married  Sarah  Bayne. 
3.  Rebecca,  born  October  11,  1798,  died  February  5,  1844;  married,  April 
5,  1838,  John  Cristler.  4.  Robert,  of  whom  further.  5.  James,  of  whom 
further.  6.  Sarah,  born  December  20,  1806,  died  unmarried.  7.  Ruth, 
born  July  30,  1809;  married,  November  3,  1837,  Isaac  Evans. 

(V)  Robert  Dawson,  second  son  and  fourth  child  of  Benoni  (2)  and 
Katherine  P.  D.  (McKennon)  Dawson,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm 
near  Ohioville,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  30,  1801.  He  followed 
the  farmer's  occupation  throughout  his  entire  active  career.  After  his 
marriage  he  lived  for  two  years  in  Ohio  township,  then  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  later  returning  to  his  native  place 
and  settling  on  land  now  a  part  of  the  Ferguson  farm,  there  residing  for 
eight  years.  He  then  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  near  Fairview, 
thereon  erecting  a  substantial  brick  house,  still  used  as  a  residence  by  his 
daughter  Catherine,  also  building  a  smaller  house  of  brick,  which  is  also 
standing  at  the  present  time.  Before  his  death,  December  2,  1882,  he  had 
acquired  two  hundred  acres'  adjoining,  making  his  farm  three  hundred 
acres  in  extent.  Honor  and  industry  were  the  two  cardinal  principles  of 
his  daily  life,  the  first  gaining  for  him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
friends  and  neighbors,  the  second  providing  him  and  his  family  with 
plenty  of  the  goods  of  this  world.  He  continued  in  the  faith  of  his  fathers 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  supported  the  Whig 
party  in  all  political  issues. 

He  married,  February  9,  1826,  EHzabeth,  daughter  of  Ruel  Reed, 
who  died  October  22,  1864.  Children  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Dawson 
(of  whom  only  one  is  living) :  i.  Mary  Ann,  died  unmarried  in  1909.  2. 
Catharine,  aged  eighty-five  years,  lives  in  the  old  brick  house  erected  by 
her  father,  the  only  survivor  of  her  generation.  3.  Benoni,  a  farmer  of 
Ohio  township,  died  in  1909.  4.  Ruel  Reed,  a  resident  of  the  state  of 
Washington,  died  in  1908;  married  Salina  Reed,  who  died  in  Kansas;  they 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  all  of  whom  live  in  the  west.  5. 
Robert  Doyne,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  served  in  the  One  Hundredth 
Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  for  a  long  time  confined 
in  Libby  Prison.  6.  Rebecca,  died  unmarried,  October  29,  1864.  7.  Daniel, 
Debolt,  of  whom  further.     8.  Willam  M.,  died  unmarried  in  1887. 

(VI)  Daniel  Debolt  Dawson,  fourth  son  and  seventh  child  of  Robert 
and  Elizabeth  (Reed)  Dawson,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  near  Fair- 
view,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  14,  1844,  died  near  there 
August  18,  1908.  Here  his  early  life  was  spent  and  in  young  manhood  he 
became  a  farmer,  inheriting  a  portion  of  his  father's  estate  he  added  some 
land  to  his  share  and  became  the  owner  of  seventy-five  acres.  He  built  a 
substantial  dwelling  and  remodeled  a  barn  that  stood  on  the  property, 
there  residing  until  his  death.  With  his  wife  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Church.     In  political  life  he  had  always  adhered  to  the  prin- 


CixA^L.4/-^ 


BEAVER    COUNTY  799 

ciples  of  the  Republican  party,  but  in  his  later  life,  when  the  question  of 
temperance  became  more  and  more  of  a  national  issue,  he  took  a  firm 
stand  for  the  Prohibition  party,  using  his  utmost  effort  and  every  influence 
in  its  behalf.  In  the  early  part  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  when  it  was 
thought  that  a  few  battles  would  cause  the  conflict  to  come  to  a  decisive 
end,  he  enlisted  for  ninety  days  in  Knapp's  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery. 
When  at  the  expiration  of  that  term  of  service  the  end  of  the  struggle 
seemed  so  indeterminate,  he  re-enlisted  in  the  One  Hundrdth  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  at  Appomattox  Court  House 
just  prior  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

He  married,  May  28,  1868,  Sarah  Jane,  born  April  6,  1841,  daughter 
of  John  and  Jane  Cochran,  natives  of  near  Venice,  Pennsylvania.  Children 
of  Daniel  Debolt  and  Sarah  Dawson:  i.  Robert  Doyne,  a  farmer,  lives 
near  New  Galloway.  2.  Stewart  Cochran,  died  in  infancy.  3.  Jennie 
Elder,  married  W.  H.  Speerhas,  and  lives  in  Industry.  4.  John  Alfred,  a 
dairyman  of  near  New  Middletown,  Ohio.  5.  Ruel  Reed,  a  farmer  of 
Alberta,  Canada.  6.  Cochran,  died  in  infancy.  7.  Howard  Debolt,  of  whom 
further.  8.  Eva  Matilda,  married  Harry  A.  Henderson,  and  lives  in  Ohio 
township. 

(VII)  Howard  Debolt  Dawson,  sixth  son  and  seventh  child  of  Daniel 
Debolt  and  Sarah  Jane  (Cochran)  Dawson,  was  born  in  Ohio  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  old  homestead,  October  3,  1883.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  township  and  completed  his 
studies  at  Pennsylvania  State  College.  After  his  graduation  from  the  latter 
institution  he  engaged  in  farming  on  the  homestead,  later  purchasing  the 
interests  of  the  several  heirs  and  becoming  sole  owner  of  that  property, 
where  he  now  makes  his  home.  Although  general  farming  plays  a  prom- 
inent part  in  his  operations,  he  gives  his  most  careful  attention  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  fruit  and  vegetables.  Applying  the  newest  and  most  scientific 
methods  to  the  culture  of  these  specialties  he  has  met  with  remarkably 
consistent  success,  gaining  a  wide  reputation  for  the  excellency  of  his 
products.  Upon  his  property  are  four  wells,  whence  flow  both  oil  and  gas, 
about  two  barrels  daily  being  the  amount  of  the  former  product  obtained 
therefrom.  For  the  purpose  of  closer  relations  with  others  engaged  in 
his  pursuits.  Mr.  Dawson  is  a  member  of  the  Local  Grange  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  in  his  national  political  action  he  supports  the  Progressive 
party,  although  locally  his  stand  is  taken  firmly  for  Prohibition. 

Mr.  Dawson  married,  June  15,  1909,  Ethel  A.,  a  native  of  Ohio  town- 
ship, daughter  of  Frank  R.  and  Nettie  (McMahan)  Wright.  Children  of 
Howard  Debolt  and  Ethel  A.  Dawson:  i.  John  Debolt,  born  May  z8, 
1910.  2.  Elsie  Ruth,  born  October  16,  191 1.  3.  Robert  Doyne,  born  July 
17,  1913,  died  in  infancy. 


8oo  PENNSYLVANIA 

(IV)  Benjamin  Dawson,  son  of  Benoni  (q.  v.)  and 
DAWSON  Rebecca  (Mackall)  Dawson,  was  born  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  died,  aged  about  fifty  years.  His 
occupation  was  that  of  ferry-master  on  the  Ohio  river.  He  married  EHza- 
beth  Wilkinson,  who  lived  to  a  very  great  age,  hers  being  the  unusual  dis- 
tinction of  seeing  her  granddaughter's  grandchildren.  Children  of  Benja- 
min and  Elizabeth  (Wilkinson)  Dawson:  i.  Amos,  of  whom  further. 
2.  Joshua  Wilkinson,  married  Mary  McLaughlin;  died  in  Greene  county, 
Indiana.  3.  George,  born  July  12,  1804,  died  near  Calcutta,  Ohio,  August 
9,  1866;  married  Narcissa  Beaver  Dawson.  4.  John  Low,  married  Phoebe 
Dix.  5.  Nancy,  married  Thomas  Blackmore.  6.  Catharine,  married  Dr. 
John  Dixon,  and  lived  in  Athens  county,  Ohio.  7.  Olivia,  married  Harrison 
Harvey;  died  in  Wellsburg,  West  Virginia.  8.  Rebecca,  married  Peter 
Fisher;  lived  in  Cameron,  Missouri.  9.  Eliza,  married  Michael  Fisher; 
lived  near  Calcutta,  Ohio.  10.  Amassa,  married  Henry  Fisher;  lived  near 
Calcutta,  Ohio.     11.  Myrtilla,  married  Dr.  James  Scroggs. 

(V)  Amos  Dawson,  eldest  child  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Wilkin- 
son) Dawson,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  met 
his  accidental  death  in  1852.  After  his  marriage  he  and  his  wife  for  a 
time  made  their  home  upon  the  old  homestead,  later  moving  to  a  triangular 
tract  of  land,  one  hundred  acres  in  extent,  west  of  Little  Beaver  creek, 
and  near  the  Ohio  state  boundary  line.  He  was  an  ardent  Democrat,  sin- 
cere and  earnest  in  his  efforts  for  the  advancement  of  that  party.  He 
met  his  death  in  Little  Beaver  creek,  being  drowned  while  washing  a  flock 
of  sheep.  He  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Mackall  Dawson,  his  first 
cousin.  Children  of  Amos  and  Rebecca  Dawson:  i.  Benjamin,  married 
Susan  Hughes;  dies  in  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  2. 
Mackall,  of  whom  further.  3.  Joshua,  deceased;  married  Margaret  Camp. 
4.  James  L.  B.,  married  Mary  Ann  Smith;  lives  at  Beaver  Falls,  Penn- 
sylvania. 5.  Thomas,  a  captain  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War, 
lives  in  Nebraska.  6.  Scroggs,  deceased;  married  Arvilla  Calhoun;  lived 
in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  7.  Amos,  deceased;  married  a  Miss 
Hamilton;  lived  near  Smiths  Ferry,  Pennsylvania.  8.  Cynthia,  married 
Benoni  Dawson,  who  afterward  married  Ann  E.  Johnson.  9.  Benoni,  de- 
ceased.   Two  other  children  who  never  attained  maturity. 

(VI)  Mackall  Dawson,  son  of  Amos  and  Rebecca  (Dawson)  Dawson, 
was  born  near  Ohioville,  Pennsylvania,  in  1827,  died  in  Darlington  town- 
ship, Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  February,  1901.  He  spent  his  early 
life  in  the  vicinity  of  his  birthplace,  attended  the  public  schools,  and 
worked  on  the  home  farm.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  owned 
by  his  father  near  Ohioville  and  there  remained  for  eight  years,  living 
for  two  more  years  on  a  near-by  farm.  He  then  entered  the  oil  business 
and  was  a  producer  at  Smiths  Ferry  for  a  period  covering  twenty  years. 
His  ventures  in  this  industry  were  rewarded  with  remunerative  success 
and  during  his  continuance  in  the  same  he  had  amassed  a  comfortable 


BEAVER    COUNTY  8oi 

competence.  In  1890  he  moved  to  Brighton  township,  residing  there  for 
but  a  short  time  before  he  went  to  Darlington  township,  purchasing  a 
farm  of  sixty-five  acres  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  his  political  faith  was  strongly  Republican.  In  all  of  his 
business  transactions  his  dealings  bore  the  stamp  of  the  strictest  integrity 
and  he  held  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  associates. 

He  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Eliza  (Dawson)  Fisher, 
born  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  in  1831.  The  wedding  ceremony  was 
solemnized  at  Bridgewater,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Eliza  (Dawson) 
Fisher  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Dawson,  and  a  sister  of  Amos  Dawson, 
the  father  of  Mackall.  Michael  Fisher  was  a  son  of  Paul  Fisher,  and 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  which  was  also  the  birth- 
place of  his  father.  Michael  Fisher  moved  early  in  life  to  a  farm  near 
Calcutta,  Ohio,  which  he  cultivated,  also  becoming  the  owner  of  a  great 
deal  of  land  in  that  vicinity.  He  was  the  father  of  the  following  children : 
I.  Elizabeth,  deceased;  married  Samuel  Richardson.  2.  Rebecca,  deceased; 
married  Dr.  Manuel  George.  3.  Mary  Jane,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; married  Amos  Wilkinson.  4.  Susan,  of  previous  mention,  mar- 
ried Mackall  Dawson,  whom  she  survives  to  the  present  time.  5.  George 
D.,  died  near  Ohioville,  Pennsylvania.  6.  Myrtilla,  died  unmarried  in 
Pennsylvania.  7.  Nancy,  unmarried,  lives  at  Smiths  Ferry.  8.  John,  died 
in  Meigs  county,  Ohio.  9.  Minerva,  died  in  young  womanhood.  10. 
Catharine,  married  John  Montgomery;  lives  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. II.  Benjamin,  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  Children  of  Mackall 
and  Susan  (Fisher)  Dawson:  i.  Amos,  died  aged  eight  years.  2.  Blanche, 
died  aged  six  years.  3.  Jennie,  married  Albert  Veon;  lives  in  Darlington 
township;  has  five  children;  John,  Delbert  R.,  Walter,  Carl,  Edmund.  4. 
Laura,  unmarried.  5.  Edmund,  of  whom  further.  6.  John,  died  aged 
twenty-six  years.  7.  An  infant,  died  unnamed.  8.  Elizabeth,  died  in 
infancy. 

(VII)  Edmund  Dawson,  son  of  Mackall  and  Susan  (Fisher)  Daw- 
son, was  born  in  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  December 
6,  1863.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Ohio  township,  and  for  a  time 
was  his  father's  assistant  on  the  farm  and  in  the  oil  business.  Since  the 
death  of  his  father  in  190 1  he  has  conducted  operation  on  the  home  farm, 
where  he  specializes  in  dairying,  also  doing  general  farming.  He  is  a 
Progressive  in  all  political  action,  and  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  which  he  is  an  elder.  Mr.  Dawson's  knowledge  along  agricultural  lines 
is  wide  and  thorough,  gained  through  a  life-long  acquaintance  with  farms 
and  farming,  and  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  successful  agriculturists  of 
the  locality.  Although  never  given  to  public  service,  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem  by  his  neighbors,  and  fulfills  all  the  duties  of  good  citizenship. 


8o2  PENNSYLVANIA 

(V)  Dr.  James  Dawson,  third  son  and  fifth  child  of  Benoni 
DAWSON  (2)  and  Katharine  P.  D.  (McKennon)  Dawson,  was  born 
on  the  old  Captain  Daniel  Dawson  farm  in  Ohio  township, 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  25,  1804,  died  August  21,  1846.  The 
farm  on  which  he  spent  his  early  life  is  now  the  property  of  Lewis  Davidson, 
of  Beaver,  Pennsylvania.  As  a  boy  James  Dawson  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Ohio  township,  and  worked  on  the  home  farm.  In  young  manhood 
he  held  the  ambition  for  the  life  of  a  physician,  casting  over  such  a  profes- 
sion the  mantle  lent  by  youthful  simplicity  and  innocence,  which  saw  only 
the  beauty  of  such  a  life  of  service.  For  this  he  studied  diligently  and  was 
rewarded  with  a  diploma  entitling  him  to  practice  medicine.  Soon  after 
his  marriage  he  moved  to  Pughtown,  West  Virginia,  and  there  engaged  in 
professional  work,  becoming  one  of  the  most  popular  physicians  in  that 
region.  In  maturity  the  occupation  he  had  chosen  became  even  more  full 
of  interest  and  fascination  to  him,  and  although  the  rosy  dreams  of  youth 
were  erased  by  the  stern  realities  of  the  life  of  self-sacrifice  demanded  of 
a  doctor  in  many  ways,  he  became  only  the  more  zealous  in  its  pursuit. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  remarried,  and  a  few  years  later  returned 
to  the  county  of  his  birth,  settling  in  Ohioville,  where  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  medicine.  He  was  an  indefatigable  worker,  and  in  the  pressure 
of  work  neglected  the  care  of  his  own  physical  condition,  so  weakening 
himself  that  he  succumbed  to  a  severe  attack  of  illness  in  the  forty-second 
year  of  his  age.  He  who  had  so  unfailingly  relieved  the  pain  of  others,  who 
had  restored  the  blessing  of  life  to  not  a  few,  bringing  them  back  from  the 
Valley  of  the  Shadow,  was  unable  to  lift  a  finger  to  stay  his  soul  in  its 
homeward  flight,  nor  could  all  the  skill  of  the  profession  of  which  he  was 
an  able  master  keep  him  in  the  presence  of  his  loved  ones,  and  Dr.  James 
Dawson  passed  from  this  life  amid  the  whispered  blessings  of  those  who 
knew  the  purity,  sweetness  and  goodness  of  his  character.  Dr.  Dawson 
was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and  as  regular  in  attendance  at 
its  services  as  the  exigencies  of  his  profession  would  permit.  The  same 
influences  prevented  him  from  taking  the  position  he  was  qualified  to  fill 
in  the  public  life  of  the  communities  in  which  he  resided,  and  although  he 
personally  supported  the  Republican  party,  was  debarred  from  the  par- 
ticipation in  political  action  that  he  would  have  enjoyed. 

He  married  (first)  Mertilla  White,  born  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  William  Hunter,  in  Ohio  township,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 15,  1807,  died  in  Pughtown,  West  Virginia,  June  9,  1833;  (second) 
Mrs.  Rachel  Moore,  who  after  his  death  remarried,  her  second  husband 
being  Henry  Pittinger.  She  died  about  1900.  The  only  child  of  the  first 
marriage  of  Dr.  James  Dawson  was  William  White,  of  whom  further. 
Children  of  the  second  marriage  of  Dr.  James  Dawson:  i.  Mertilla,  married 
Milo  Reed,  and  both  are  deceased.  2.  Benoni,  died  in  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1912;  married  (first)  Mary  Mansfield;  (second)  Matilda 
Thayer;  (third)  Mrs.  Elizabeth  .    3.  Catherine,  married  W.  F.  Lyon; 


BEAVER    COUNTY  803 

lives  in  Rochester,  Pennsylvania.  4.  Henry  Clay,  died  in  young  manhood. 
5.  James,  killed  in  Colorado  by  hostile  Indians. 

(VI)  WiUiam  White  Dawson,  son  of  Dr.  James  and  Mertilla  (White) 
Dawson,  was  bom  at  Pughtown  (then  Fairview),  West  Virginia,  May 
27,  1833,  died  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  9,  1908.  In 
graded  instruction  he  never  advanced  further  than  the  public  schools,  but 
being  of  a  naturally  studious  nature,  he  read  much  of  the  world's  best 
literature  and  in  every  way  that  presented  itself  improved  his  store  of 
general  knowledge.  His  mother  dying  when  he  was  an  i